Backlighting array supporting adaptable parallax barrier

ABSTRACT

Display systems are described that include an adaptable parallax barrier that filters light passed by a display panel in a manner that allows for the simultaneous viewing of two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images and multi-view three-dimensional content in different display regions. The display system also includes a backlight panel comprising an array of light sources that may be individually controlled to vary the backlighting luminosity provided to the display panel on a region-by-region basis. Since each of the display regions may be perceived as having a different number of pixels per unit area depending upon the type of content being presented, the backlight array enables the brightness of each region to be controlled such that a viewer perceives roughly uniform brightness across all regions. Alternative regional brightness control schemes are also described.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/291,818, filed on Dec. 31, 2009, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/303,119, filed on Feb. 10, 2010, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

This application is also related to the following U.S. patent applications, each of which also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61/291,818 and 61/303,119 and each of which is incorporated by reference herein:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/845,409, filed on Jul. 28, 2010, and entitled “Display with Adaptable Parallax Barrier”; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/845,440, filed on Jul. 28, 2010, and entitled “Adaptable Parallax Barrier Supporting Mixed 2D and Stereoscopic 3D Display Regions.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to display systems that utilize backlighting and, in particular, to display systems that utilize backlighting and support the viewing of two-dimensional and three-dimensional images.

2. Background Art

Images may be generated for display in various forms. For instance, television (TV) is a widely used telecommunication medium for transmitting and displaying images in monochromatic (“black and white”) or color form. Conventionally, images are provided in analog form and are displayed by display devices in two-dimensions. More recently, images are being provided in digital form for display in two-dimensions on display devices having improved resolution (e.g., “high definition” or “HD”). Even more recently, images capable of being displayed in three-dimensions are being generated.

A parallax barrier is one example of a device that enables images to be displayed in three-dimensions. A parallax barrier includes of a layer of material with a series of precision slits. The parallax barrier is placed proximal to a display so that a viewer's eyes each see a different set of pixels to create a sense of depth through parallax. A disadvantage of parallax barriers is that the viewer must be positioned in a well-defined location in order to experience the three-dimensional effect. If the viewer moves his/her eyes away from this “sweet spot,” image flipping and/or exacerbation of the eyestrain, headaches and nausea that may be associated with prolonged three-dimensional image viewing may result. Conventional three-dimensional LCD displays that utilize parallax barriers are also constrained in that the displays must be entirely in a two-dimensional image mode or a three-dimensional image mode at any time.

To address these issues associated with conventional three-dimensional LCD displays that utilize parallax barriers, commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/845,409 presents an innovative two-dimensional/three-dimensional viewing display that includes a parallax barrier that may be dynamically modified in order to adaptively accommodate, for example, a changing viewer sweet spot, switching between two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images, and multi-view three-dimensional content, and the simultaneous display of two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images and multi-view three-dimensional content. Furthermore, commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/845,440 describes the use of such an innovative two-dimensional/three-dimensional viewing display to simultaneously present two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images and multi-view three-dimensional content via different regions of the same display.

Conventional LCD displays typically include a backlight and a display panel that includes an array of LCD pixels. The backlight is designed to produce a sheet of light of uniform luminosity for illuminating the LCD pixels. When simultaneously displaying two-dimensional, three-dimensional and multi-view three-dimensional regions using a system such as that described in above-reference U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/845,440, the use of a conventional backlight will result in a disparity in perceived brightness between the different simultaneously-displayed regions. This is because the number of visible pixels per unit area associated with a two-dimensional region will generally exceed the number of visible pixels per unit area associated with a particular three-dimensional or multi-view three-dimensional region (in which the pixels must be partitioned among different eyes/views). This disparity in perceived brightness between display regions may lead to an unsatisfactory viewing experience for a viewer. For example, when the viewer adjusts the brightness level of the backlight to improve the appearance of an image in a particular region, the viewer may also cause the brightness of an image in another display region to be reduced or increased to an undesired level. Consequently, the viewer will be unable to set all of the display regions to a single desired brightness level. In addition, the viewer may be unable to adequately perceive images displayed in regions of reduced brightness. Furthermore, the disparity in perceived brightness between the display regions may be distracting or annoying to the viewer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Display systems and methods are described herein. In accordance with certain embodiments, the display systems and methods provide a backlight panel comprising an array of light sources (e.g., LEDs) that may be individually controlled to vary the backlighting luminosity provided to a proximately-positioned display panel on a region-by-region basis. Such control may be automatic and/or manual. This enables, for example, the brightness of each region to be controlled such that a viewer perceives roughly uniform brightness across all regions. This is particularly useful in a display system having an adaptable parallax barrier that allows for the simultaneous viewing of two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images and multi-view three-dimensional content in different display regions, since those display regions may be perceived as having a different number of pixels per unit area.

Alternatively or in addition to controlling the backlighting array, the intensity of pixels associated with a particular display region can also be increased or reduced in order to control brightness on a region-by-region or pixel-by-pixel basis. In one embodiment, a combined backlight array and pixel intensity control scheme is used to provide desired brightness on a region-by-region basis. For example, the intensity of pixels near the boundary of a region may be increased or reduced to correct disparities caused by the luminosity contribution (or lack thereof) from backlight sources associated with adjacent regions. Alternatively or additionally, a grating system may be used to prevent the spilling over of light from adjacent regions.

For certain display systems that do not utilize backlights, such as OLED/PLED display systems, an embodiment of the invention may be implemented by providing control of the brightness of the regions of the OLED/PLED array that correspond to different display regions.

Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Such embodiments are presented herein for illustrative purposes only. Additional embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a display system in accordance with one example embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a display system in accordance with another example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one example implementation of the display system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 shows a view of a surface of a parallax barrier in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show views of a blocking region of a blocking region array that is selected to be transparent and to be opaque, respectively, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of one method for generating two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of the display system of FIG. 2 in accordance with an embodiment.

FIGS. 8A and 8B each show a view of an example parallax barrier with non-blocking slits in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a blocking array controller in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 10 depicts a flowchart of a method for forming a three-dimensional image in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows the display system of FIG. 7 providing a three-dimensional image to a user in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 12 depicts a flowchart of a method that may be performed to enable the display of two-dimensional and three-dimensional images in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows a display system configured to generate two-dimensional and three-dimensional images in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show views of the blocking region array of FIG. 3 configured to enable the simultaneous display of two-dimensional and three-dimensional images of various sizes in accordance with example embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a view of a display system that implements a controllable backlight array and is configured to simultaneously display two-dimensional and three-dimensional content in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a view of the display system of FIG. 16 in an alternate configuration for simultaneously displaying two-dimensional and three-dimensional content.

FIG. 18 depicts a flowchart of method for operating a display system that utilizes a backlight panel comprising an array of individually-controllable light sources in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 19 depicts a flowchart of a method for operating a display system that includes a backlight array to independently control the brightness of different display regions generated thereby to simultaneously display corresponding two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images, and multi-view three-dimensional content.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a display system in accordance with an alternate embodiment that uses a conventional backlight and implements a regional brightness control scheme based on pixel intensity.

FIG. 21 illustrates one example configuration of the display system of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 depicts a flowchart of a method for operating a display system that utilizes a regional brightness control scheme based on pixel intensity in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a front perspective view of the display panel of FIG. 16.

FIG. 24 depicts a flowchart of a method for implementing regional brightness control in a display system that combines the use of a backlight array of independently-controllable light sources with regional pixel intensity control in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a view of display system that includes a grating structure in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 26 provides a partial, blown-up view of the grating structure shown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram of a display system in accordance with an alternate embodiment that utilizes a display panel comprising an array of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) or polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs) and implements a regional brightness control scheme based on controlling OLED/PLED pixel brightness.

FIG. 28 depicts a flowchart of a method for operating a display system that implements a regional brightness control scheme by controlling the amount of light emitted by OLED/PLED pixels in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram of a display system in accordance with an alternate embodiment that uses a brightness regulation overlay to implement a regional brightness control scheme.

FIG. 30 illustrates two exemplary configurations of an example implementation of an adaptable light manipulator that includes a parallax barrier and a brightness regulation overlay in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 31 depicts a flowchart of a method for operating a display system that uses a using a brightness regulation overlay to implement a regional brightness control scheme by in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a block diagram of an example practical implementation of a display system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION I. Introduction

The present specification discloses one or more embodiments that incorporate the features of the invention. The disclosed embodiment(s) merely exemplify the invention. The scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s). The invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.

References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

Furthermore, it should be understood that spatial descriptions (e.g., “above,” “below,” “up,” “left,” “right,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” etc.) used herein are for purposes of illustration only, and that practical implementations of the structures described herein can be spatially arranged in any orientation or manner.

Display systems will be described herein that include a backlight panel comprising an array of light sources that can be individually controlled to vary backlighting luminosity on a region-by-region basis. Such a backlight panel is particularly useful, for example, in display systems such as those described in commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/845,440 (entitled “Adaptable Parallax Barrier Supporting Mixed 2D and Stereoscopic 3D Display Regions” and filed on Jul. 28, 2010) in which a dynamically-modifiable parallax barrier is used to support the simultaneous display of two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images and multi-view three-dimensional content in different display regions. However, the backlight panels described herein may advantageously be used in any display system in which it is desirable to simultaneously provide different levels of brightness to different display regions associated with the display system.

Display systems will also be described herein that selectively increase or reduce the intensity of pixels associated with a particular display region in order to control brightness on a region-by-region or pixel-by-pixel basis. In one embodiment described herein, a combined backlight array and pixel intensity control scheme is used to provide desired brightness on a region-by-region basis. For example, in accordance with such an embodiment, the intensity of pixels near the boundary of a region may be increased or reduced to correct disparities caused by the luminosity contribution (or lack thereof) from backlight sources associated with adjacent regions. In a further embodiment described herein, a grating system is used to prevent the spilling over of light from adjacent regions.

Display systems will also be described herein that do not use backlights but instead use organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) or polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs) that combine the illumination and image-generation function. In embodiments, described herein, these display systems implement regional brightness control by providing control over the brightness of the regions of an OLED/PLED pixel array that correspond to different display regions.

II. Example Operating Environment

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an example display system 100 in which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented. As shown in FIG. 1A, display system 100 includes a display device 116. Display device 116 may comprise, for example, a television display, a computer monitor, a laptop monitor, or a display associated with a cellular telephone, smart telephone, personal media player, personal digital assistant, or the like. As will be discussed in more detail herein, display device 116 is capable of simultaneously displaying two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images and multi-view three-dimensional content via different display regions.

As shown in FIG. 1A, display device 116 includes a backlight panel 102, a display panel 104 and a parallax barrier 106. Backlight panel 102 emits light 110, which passes through pixels of display panel 104, thereby creating display-generated light 112, which includes image information. Such image information may include one or more still images, motion (e.g., video) images, etc. Display-generated light 112 is received by parallax barrier 106, which filters display-generated light 112 to pass filtered display-generated light 114. For instance, parallax barrier 106 may filter display-generated light 112 with a plurality of barrier regions that are selectively opaque or transparent. Filtered display-generated light 114 includes a plurality of images formed from the image information included in display-generated light 112. For example, filtered display-generated light 114 may include one or more two-dimensional images and/or one or more three-dimensional images. Filtered display-generated light 114 is received in a viewing space 108 proximate to display device 116. One or more users may be present in viewing space 108 to view the two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images included in filtered display-generated light 114.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of an alternative example display system 150 in which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented. As shown in FIG. 1B, display system 150 includes a display device 166 that includes a backlight panel 152, a parallax barrier 154 and a display panel 156. Backlight panel 152 emits light 160, which is received by parallax barrier 154, which filters light 160 to pass filtered light 162. For instance, parallax barrier 154 may filter light 160 with a plurality of barrier regions that are selectively opaque or transparent. Filtered light 162 passes through pixels of display panel 156, thereby creating filtered display-generated light 164. Filtered display-generated light 164 includes a plurality of images formed by the passage of filtered light 162 through the pixels of display panel 156. For example, filtered display-generated light 164 may include one or more two-dimensional images and/or one or more three-dimensional images. Filtered display-generated light 114 is received in a viewing space 158 proximate to display device 166. One or more users may be present in viewing space 158 to view the two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images included in filtered display-generated light 114.

Although subsequent description will expand upon an implementation of display system 100 of FIG. 1A, persons skilled in the relevant art(s) will readily appreciate that embodiments of the present invention described herein may likewise be implemented in display system 150 of FIG. 1B. For example, embodiments described herein that utilize a backlight panel comprising an array of light sources that can be individually controlled to vary backlighting luminosity on a region-by-region basis can be implemented in either display system 100 of FIG. 1A or display system 150 of FIG. 1B to achieve similar benefits. Furthermore, embodiments described herein that selectively increase or reduce the intensity of pixels associated with a particular display region in order to control brightness on a region-by-region or pixel-by-pixel basis can be implemented in either display system 100 of FIG. 1A or display system 150 of FIG. 1B to achieve similar benefits.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a display system 200, which is one example implementation of system 100 shown in FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 2, system 200 includes a display controller 202 and display device 116 (which includes backlight panel 102, display panel 104 and parallax barrier 106). As shown in FIG. 2, backlight panel 102 includes a backlight array 210, display panel 104 includes a pixel array 212 and parallax barrier 106 includes a blocking region array 210. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, display controller 202 includes a backlight array controller 204, a pixel array controller 206, and a blocking array controller 208.

Backlight array 210 comprises a two-dimensional array of light sources. Such light sources may be arranged, for example, in a rectangular grid. Each light source in backlight array 210 is individually addressable and controllable to select an amount of light emitted thereby. A single light source may comprise one or more light-emitting elements depending upon the implementation. In one embodiment, each light source in backlight array 210 comprises a single light-emitting diode (LED) although this example is not intended to be limiting. Backlight array controller 204 within display controller 202 controls the amount of light emitted by each light source in backlight array 210 by sending a control signal 216 to backlight array 210. Control signal 216 may include one or more control signals used to control the amount of light emitted by each light source in backlight array 210. The operation of backlight array controller 204 and backlight array 210 will be described in further detail herein.

Pixel array 212 includes a two-dimensional array of pixels. Such pixels may be arranged, for example, in a rectangular grid. In an embodiment in which display panel 104 comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, each pixel in pixel array 212 comprises an LCD pixel, although this example is not intended to be limiting. Each pixel in pixel array 212 is individually addressable and controllable to select an amount of light originating from backlight array 210 that will be passed thereby, thus allowing the intensity of each pixel to be varied. In an embodiment, each pixel of pixel array 212 includes a plurality of sub-pixels, wherein each sub-pixel operates as a filter to pass a certain type of colored light and is individually addressable and controllable to select an amount of light that will be passed thereby. For example, each pixel in pixel array 212 may include a red sub-pixel that filters light produced by backlight panel 102 to produce red light, a green sub-pixel that filters light produced by backlight panel 102 to produce green light and a blue sub-pixel that filters light produced by backlight panel 102 to produce blue light. By controlling the intensity of each red, green and blue sub-pixel associated with a pixel, various colors may be produced at various degrees of intensity.

Parallax barrier 106 is positioned proximate to a surface of pixel array 212. Blocking region array 214 is a layer of parallax barrier 106 that includes a plurality of blocking regions arranged in an array. Each blocking region of the array is configured to be selectively opaque or transparent. For instance, FIG. 3 shows a parallax barrier 300 in accordance with an example embodiment. Parallax barrier 300 is an example of parallax barrier 106 of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, parallax barrier 300 includes a blocking region array 302. Blocking region array 302 includes a plurality of blocking regions 304 arranged in a two-dimensional array (e.g., arranged in a grid), although in other embodiments blocking regions 304 may be arranged in other ways. Each blocking region 304 is shown in FIG. 3 as rectangular (e.g., square) in shape but, in other embodiments, blocking regions 304 may have other shapes. Blocking regions 304 may each comprise a pixel of an LCD, a moveable mechanical element (e.g., a hinged flap that passes light in a first position and blocks light in a second position), a magnetically-actuated element, or other suitable blocking element.

Blocking region array 302 may include any number of blocking regions 304. For example, in FIG. 3, blocking region array 302 includes twenty-eight blocking regions 304 along an x-axis and includes twenty blocking regions 304 along a y-axis, for a total number of five hundred and sixty blocking regions 304. However, these dimensions of blocking region array 302 and the total number of blocking regions 304 for blocking region array 302 shown in FIG. 3 are provided for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to be limiting. Blocking region array 302 may include any number of blocking regions 304, and may have any array dimensions, including hundreds, thousands, or even larger numbers of blocking regions 304 along each of the x- and y-axes.

Each blocking region 304 of blocking region array 302 is selectable to be opaque or transparent. For instance, FIG. 4 shows a blocking region 304 x that is selected to be transparent, and FIG. 5 shows blocking region 304 x when selected to be opaque, according to example embodiments. When blocking region 304 x is selected to be transparent, display-generated light 112 emanating from pixel array 212 may pass through blocking region 304 x (e.g., to viewing space 108). When blocking region 304 x is selected to be opaque, display-generated light 112 from pixel array 212 is blocked from passing through blocking region 304 x. By selecting some of blocking regions 304 of blocking region array 302 to be transparent, and some of blocking regions 304 of blocking region array 302 to be opaque, display-generated light 112 received at blocking region array 302 is filtered to generate filtered display-generated light 114.

Display controller 202 is configured to generate control signals to enable display device 116 to display two-dimensional and three-dimensional images to users 222 in viewing space 108. For example, pixel array controller 206 is configured to generate a control signal 218 that is received by pixel array 212. Control signal 218 may include one or more control signals used to cause pixels of pixel array 212 to emit display-generated light 112 of particular desired colors and/or intensity. Blocking array controller 208 is configured to generate a control signal 220 that is received by blocking region array 214. Control signal 220 may include one or more control signals used to cause each of blocking regions 304 of blocking region array 302 to be transparent or opaque. In this manner, blocking region array 214 filters display-generated light 112 to generate filtered display-generated light 114 that includes one or more two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images that may be viewed by users 222 in viewing space 108.

For example, control signal 218 may control sets of pixels of pixel array 212 to each emit light representative of a respective image, to provide a plurality of images. Control signal 220 may control blocking regions 304 of blocking region array 214 to filter the light received from pixel array 212 according to the provided images such that one or more of the images are received by users 222 in two-dimensional form. For instance, control signal 220 may select one or more sets of blocking regions 304 of blocking region array 302 to be transparent, to transmit one or more corresponding two-dimensional images to users 222. Furthermore, control signal 220 may control sections of blocking region array 214 to include opaque and transparent blocking regions 304 to filter the light received from pixel array 212 so that one or more pairs of images provided by pixel array 212 are each received by users 222 as a corresponding as three-dimensional image. For example, control signal 220 may select parallel strips of blocking regions 304 of blocking region array 302 to be transparent to form slits that enable three-dimensional images to be received by users 222.

In embodiments, control signal 220 may be generated by blocking array controller 208 to configure one or more characteristics of blocking region array 214. For example, control signal 220 may be generated to form any number of parallel strips of blocking regions 304 of blocking region array 302 to be transparent, to modify the number and/or spacing of parallel strips of blocking regions 304 of blocking region array 302 that are transparent, to select and/or modify a width and/or a length (in blocking regions 304) of one or more strips of blocking regions 304 of blocking region array 302 that are transparent or opaque, to select and/or modify an orientation of one or more strips of blocking regions 304 of blocking region array 302 that are transparent, to select one or more areas of blocking region array 302 to include all transparent or all opaque blocking regions 304, etc.

Two-dimensional and three-dimensional images may be generated by system 200 in various ways. For instance, FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart 600 of a method for generating two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images in accordance with an example embodiment. The method of flowchart 600 may be performed by system 200 in FIG. 2, for example. The method of flowchart 600 will be described with respect to FIG. 7, which shows a cross-sectional view of a display system 700. Display system 700 is an example embodiment of system 200 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 7, system 700 includes a pixel array 702 and a blocking region array 704. Further structural and operational embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the discussion regarding flowchart 600. The method of flowchart 600 is described as follows.

The method of flowchart 600 begins with step 602. In step 602, light is received at a parallax barrier. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, display-generated light 112 is received at parallax barrier 106 from pixel array 212 of display panel 104. Each pixel of pixel array 212 may emit light that is received at parallax barrier 106. Depending on the particular display mode of parallax barrier 106, parallax barrier 106 may filter display-generated light 112 from pixel array 212 to generate a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image viewable in viewing space 108 by users 222. Furthermore, parallax barrier 106 may filter display-generated light 112 from pixel array 212 differently in different areas of parallax barrier 106 to simultaneously generate two-dimensional images and/or three-dimensional images corresponding to the different areas.

In step 604, each blocking region in a plurality of parallel strips of blocking regions of the blocking region array is selected to be transparent to form a plurality of parallel transparent slits, the spacing of transparent slits in the plurality of parallel transparent slits being selectable. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, blocking region array 704 includes a plurality of blocking regions that are each either transparent or opaque. Blocking regions that are opaque are indicated as blocking regions 710 a-710 f, and blocking regions that are transparent are indicated as blocking regions 712 a-712 e. Further blocking regions may be included in blocking region array 704 that are not visible in FIG. 7. Each of blocking regions 710 a-710 f and 712 a-712 e may include one or more blocking regions. Blocking regions 710 alternate with blocking regions 712 in series in the order of blocking regions 710 a, 712 a, 710 b, 712 b, 710 c, 712 c, 710 d, 712 d, 710 e, 712 e, and 710 f. In this manner, opaque blocking regions 710 are alternated with transparent blocking regions 712 to form a plurality of parallel transparent slits in blocking region array 704.

For instance, FIG. 8A shows a view of parallax barrier 300 of FIG. 3 with transparent slits, according to an example embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8A, parallax barrier 300 includes blocking region array 302, which includes a plurality of blocking regions 304 arranged in a two-dimensional array. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, blocking region array 302 includes a plurality of parallel strips of blocking regions 304 that are selected to be transparent to form a plurality of parallel transparent strips (or “slits”) 802 a-802 g. As shown in FIG. 8, parallel transparent strips 802 a-802 g (transparent slits) are alternated with parallel opaque strips 804 a-804 g of blocking regions 304 that are selected to be opaque. In the example of FIG. 8A, transparent strips 802 a-802 g and opaque strips 804 a-804 g each have a width (along the x-dimension) of two blocking regions 304, and have lengths that extend along the entire y-dimension (twenty blocking regions 304) of blocking region array 304, although in other embodiments, may have alternative dimensions. The spacing (and number) of parallel transparent strips 802 in blocking region array 704 may be selectable by choosing any number and combination of particular strips of blocking regions 304 in blocking region array 302 to be transparent, to be alternated with opaque strips 804, as desired.

FIG. 8B shows a parallax barrier 310 that is another example of blocking region array 704 with parallel transparent slits, according to an embodiment. Similarly to parallax barrier 300 of FIG. 8A, parallax barrier 310 has includes a blocking region array 312, which includes a plurality of blocking regions 314 arranged in a two-dimensional array (28 by 1 array). Blocking regions 314 have widths (along the x-dimension) similar to the widths of blocking regions 304 in FIG. 8A, but have lengths that extend along the entire vertical length (y-dimension) of blocking region array 312. As shown in FIG. 8B, blocking region array 312 includes parallel transparent strips 802 a-802 g alternated with parallel opaque strips 804 a-804 g. In the example of FIG. 8B, parallel transparent strips 802 a-802 g and parallel opaque strips 804 a-804 g each have a width (along the x-dimension) of two blocking regions 314, and have lengths that extend along the entire y-dimension (one blocking region 314) of blocking region array 312.

Referring back to FIG. 6, in step 606, the light is filtered at the parallax barrier to form a plurality of images in a viewing space. In embodiments, parallax barrier 106 may filter display-generated light 112 from pixel array 212 to generate one or more two-dimensional images and/or three-dimensional images viewable in viewing space 108 by users 222.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, pixel array 702 includes a plurality of pixels 714 a-714 d and 716 a-716 d. Pixels 714 alternate with pixels 716, such that pixels 714 a-714 d and 716 a-716 d are arranged in series in the order of pixels 714 a, 716 a, 714 b, 716 b, 714 c, 716 c, 714 d, and 716 d. Further pixels may be included in pixel array 702 that are not visible in FIG. 7, including further pixels along the width dimension of pixel array 702 (e.g., in the left-right directions) as well as pixels along a length dimension of pixel array 702 (not visible in FIG. 7). Each of pixels 714 a-714 d and 716 a-716 d passes light from backlight panel 102, and this light emanates from display surface 724 of pixel array 702 (e.g., generally upward in FIG. 7) towards blocking region array 704. Some example indications of light emanating from pixels 714 a-714 d and 716 a-716 d are shown in FIG. 7 (as dotted lines), including light 724 a and light 718 a emanating from pixel 714 a, light 724 b, light 718 b, and light 724 c emanating from pixel 714 b, etc.

Light emanating from pixel array 702 is filtered by blocking region array 704 to form a plurality of images in a viewing space 726, including a first image 706 a at a first location 708 a and a second image 706 b at a second location 708 b. A portion of the light emanating from pixel array 702 is blocked by opaque blocking regions 710, while another portion of the light emanating from pixel array 702 passes through transparent blocking regions 712, according to the filtering by blocking region array 704. For instance, light 724 a from pixel 714 a is blocked by opaque blocking region 710 a, and light 724 b and light 724 c from pixel 714 b are blocked by opaque blocking regions 710 b and 710 c, respectively. In contrast, light 718 a from pixel 714 a is passed by transparent blocking region 712 a and light 718 b from pixel 714 b is passed by transparent blocking region 712 b.

By forming parallel transparent slits in a blocking region array, light from a pixel array can be filtered to form multiple images in a viewing space. For instance, system 700 shown in FIG. 7 is configured to form first and second images 706 a and 706 b at locations 708 a and 708 b, respectively, which are positioned at a distance 728 from pixel array 702 (as shown in FIG. 7, further instances of first and second images 706 a and 706 b may be formed in viewing space 726 according to system 700, in a repeating, alternating fashion). As described above, pixel array 702 includes a first set of pixels 714 a-714 d and a second set of pixels 716 a-716 d. Pixels 714 a-714 d correspond to first image 706 a and pixels 716 a-716 d correspond to second image 706 b. Due to the spacing of pixels 714 a-714 d and 716 a-716 d in pixel array 702, and the geometry of transparent blocking regions 712 in blocking region array 704, first and second images 706 a and 706 b are formed at locations 708 a and 708 b, respectively. As shown in FIG. 7, light 718 a-718 d from the first set of pixels 714 a-714 d is focused at location 708 a to form first image 706 a at location 708 a. Light 720 a-720 d from the second set of pixels 716 a-716 d is focused at location 708 b to form second image 706 b at location 708 b.

FIG. 7 shows a slit spacing 722 (center-to-center) of transparent blocking regions 712 in blocking region array 704. Spacing 722 may be determined to select locations for parallel transparent slits to be formed in blocking region array 704 for a particular image distance 728 at which images are desired to be formed (for viewing by users). For example, in an embodiment, if a spacing of pixels 714 a-714 d corresponding to an image is known, and a distance 728 at which the image is desired to be displayed is known, the spacing 722 between adjacent parallel transparent slits in blocking region array 704 may be selected. As shown in FIG. 9, in an embodiment, blocking array controller 208 (of FIG. 2) may include a slit spacing calculator 902. Slit spacing calculator 902 is configured to calculate spacing 722 for a particular spacing of pixels and a desired distance for the corresponding image to be formed.

In an embodiment, display system 700 may be configured to generate three-dimensional images for viewing by users in a viewing space. For instance, first and second images 706 a and 706 b may be configured to be perceived by a user as a three-dimensional image. In an embodiment, step 606 of flowchart 6 (FIG. 6) may include a step 1002 shown in FIG. 10. In step 1002, light from the array of pixels is filtered to form a first image corresponding to a first set of pixels at a right eye location and to form a second image corresponding to a second set of pixels at a left eye location. For example, FIG. 11 shows display system 700 of FIG. 7, where a user 1104 receives first image 706 a at a first eye location 1102 a and second image 706 b at a second eye location 1102 b, according to an example embodiment. First and second images 706 a and 706 b may be generated by first set of pixels 714 a-714 d and second set of pixels 716 a-716 d such that they represent slightly different perspectives of the same subject matter. Images 706 a and 706 b are combined in the visual center of the brain of user 1104 to be perceived as a three-dimensional image.

In such an embodiment, first and second images 706 a and 706 b may be formed by display system 700 such that their centers are spaced apart a width of a user's pupils (e.g., an “interocular distance” 1106). For example, the spacing of first and second images 706 a and 706 b may be approximately 65 mm (or other suitable spacing) to generally be equivalent to interocular distance 1106. As described above, multiple instances of first and second images 706 a and 706 b may be formed by display system 700 that repeat in a viewing space. Thus, first and second images 706 a and 706 b shown in FIG. 11 that coincide with the left and right eyes of user 1104 may be adjacent first and second images 706 a and 706 b of the repeating instances that are separated by interocular distance 1106. Alternatively, first and second images 706 a and 706 b shown in FIG. 11 coinciding with the left and right eyes of user 1104 may be separated by one or more instances of first and second images 706 a and 706 b of the repeating instances that happen to be separated by interocular distance 1106.

Details regarding a manner by which various characteristics of a parallax barrier, such as parallax barrier 300 of FIG. 3, can be modified to achieve desired display characteristics are set forth in commonly-owned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/845,440, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. These modifications may include, for example, modifying at least one of a distance between adjacent transparent slits, the width of one or more of the transparent slits, the width of one or more opaque strips, and the orientation of the transparent slits and opaque strips. The modification of these characteristics of parallax barrier 300 enable the adaptively accommodation of, for example, a changing viewer location (also referred to as a “sweet spot”), switching between two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images and multi-view three-dimensional content, and the simultaneous display of two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images, and multi-view three-dimensional content.

As described in above-referenced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/845,440, a blocking region array may be configured to enable multiple two-dimensional images and/or three-dimensional images to be displayed simultaneously. For example, the blocking region array may include one or more transparent sections to generate one or more two-dimensional images and one or more sections that include parallel transparent slits to generate one or more three-dimensional images. For instance, FIG. 12 shows a flowchart 1200 that may be performed during step 604 of flowchart 600 (FIG. 6) to enable the simultaneous display of two-dimensional and three-dimensional images, according to an example embodiment. Flowchart 1200 is described as follows with respect to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 shows a display system 1300 configured to generate two-dimensional and three-dimensional images, according to an example embodiment.

In step 1202 of flowchart 1200, a first set of blocking regions of the blocking region array is configured to filter light from a first set of pixels to form a first image at a right eye location and to filter light from a second set of pixels to form a second image at a left eye location. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, system 1300 includes a pixel array 1302 and a blocking region array 1304. System 1300 may also include display controller 202 of FIG. 2, which is not shown in FIG. 13 for ease of illustration. Pixel array 1302 includes a first set of pixels 1314 a-1314 d and a second set of pixels 1316 a-1316 c. First set of pixels 1314 a-1314 d and second set of pixels 1316 a-1316 c are configured to generate images at left-eye and right-eye locations that combine to form a three-dimensional image in a similar fashion as described above (e.g., with respect to FIG. 7). Pixels of the two sets of pixels are alternated in pixel array 1302 in the order of pixel 1314 a, pixel 1316 a, pixel 1314 b, pixel 1316 b, etc. (further pixels may be included). Blocking region array 1304 includes a first portion 1318 and a second portion 1320. First portion 1318 of blocking region array 1304 is positioned adjacent to first and second sets of pixels 1314 a-1314 d and 1316 a-1316 c. First portion 1318 includes blocking regions that are opaque indicated as blocking regions 1310 a-1310 e, and blocking regions that are transparent indicated as blocking regions 1312 a-1312 d. Opaque blocking regions 1310 are alternated with transparent blocking regions 1312 to form a plurality of parallel transparent slits in blocking region array 1304, similarly to blocking region array 304 shown in FIG. 8. Light emanating from pixel array 1302 is filtered by portion 1318 of blocking region array 1304 to form first and second images 1306 a and 1306 b, respectively, in a viewing space as described above.

In step 1204, a second set of blocking regions of the blocking region array is selected to be transparent to pass light from a third set of pixels to form a third image. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, pixel array 1302 further includes a third set of pixels 1308 a and 1308 b (further pixels may be included in the third set of pixels). Second portion 1320 of blocking region array 1304 is positioned adjacent to third set of pixels 1308 a-1308 b. Second portion 1320 includes blocking regions that are transparent, indicated as blocking regions 1312 e. No opaque blocking regions are included in second portion 1320. As such, light emanating from third set of pixels 1308 a-1308 b passes through second portion 1320 of blocking region array 1304 without being filtered to be received as a third image 1306 c in a viewing space. Third image 1306 c is a two-dimensional image, and may be received at multiple locations of the viewing space.

As such, in FIG. 13, a three-dimensional image (based on the combination of first and second images 1306 a and 1306 b) and a two-dimensional image are simultaneously generated by display system 1300. Although in the example of FIG. 13 a single three-dimensional image and a single two-dimensional image are simultaneously generated by display system 1300, any number of two-dimensional and three-dimensional images may be simultaneously generated by a display system, in embodiments. Furthermore, the three-dimensional and two-dimensional images may have any size. For instance, FIGS. 14 and 15 show views of blocking region array 302 of FIG. 3 configured to enable the simultaneous display of two-dimensional and three-dimensional images of various sizes, according to example embodiments. In FIG. 14, a first portion 1402 of blocking region array 302 is configured similarly to blocking region array 300 of FIG. 8, including a plurality of parallel transparent strips alternated with parallel opaque strips that together fill first portion 1402. A second portion 1404 of blocking region array 302 is surrounded by first portion 1402. Second portion 1404 is a rectangular shaped portion of blocking region array 302 that includes a two-dimensional array of blocking regions 304 that are transparent. Thus, in FIG. 14, blocking region array 302 is configured to enable a three-dimensional image to be generated by pixels of a pixel array that are adjacent to blocking regions of first portion 1402, and to enable a two-dimensional image to be generated by pixels of the pixel array that are adjacent to blocking regions inside of second portion 1404.

In FIG. 15, blocking region array 302 includes a first portion 1502 and a second portion 1504. First portion 1502 includes a two-dimensional array of blocking regions 304 that are transparent. Second portion 1504 is rectangular shaped, and is contained within first portion 1502. Second portion 1504 includes a plurality of parallel transparent strips alternated with parallel opaque strips that together fill second portion 1504 of blocking region array 302. Thus, in FIG. 15, blocking region array 302 is configured to enable a two-dimensional image to be generated by pixels of a pixel array that are adjacent to blocking regions of first portion 1502, and to enable a three-dimensional image to be generated by pixels of the pixel array that are adjacent to blocking regions inside of second portion 1504.

It is noted that although second portions 1404 and 1504 are shown for illustrative purposes in FIGS. 14 and 15 as being rectangular areas, second portions 1404 and 1504 may have other shapes, including circular, triangular or other polygon, irregular, or any other shape.

Furthermore, although flowchart 1200 (and FIGS. 13-15) relate to a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image being provided by a display system simultaneously, in embodiments, two or more two-dimensional images or two or more three-dimensional images may be provided by a display system simultaneously. For instance, in an embodiment, step 1202 of flowchart 1200 may be repeated to form fourth and fifth images corresponding to another three-dimensional image. Additionally or alternatively, step 1204 may be repeated to form a sixth image corresponding to another two-dimensional image. Any number of additional two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images may be formed in this manner by corresponding regions of a display.

III. Example Backlighting Panel Implementations

As discussed in the preceding section, display system 116 is capable of simultaneously displaying two-dimensional and three-dimensional images in different display regions by selectively modifying portions of blocking region array 214 that correspond to different areas of pixel array 212. A viewer that is capable of viewing the simultaneously-displayed two-dimensional and three-dimensional images will perceive a different number of pixels per unit area in each display region depending upon the type of image that is being presented in each display region.

For example, in further accordance with the example provided above with respect to FIG. 15, assume that the image passed by second portion 1504 of blocking region array 302 is a three-dimensional image. In this case, a viewer viewing the two-dimensional image passed by first portion 1502 of blocking region array 302 will perceive every pixel in the portion of pixel array 212 that is aligned with first portion 1502 of blocking region array 302. If the viewer is also viewing the three-dimensional image passed by second portion 1504 of blocking region array 302, then each of the viewer's eyes will perceive only one half of the pixels in the portion of pixel array 212 that is aligned with second portion 1504 of blocking region array 302. This is because one half of the pixels in the relevant portion of pixel array 212 will be perceived as a first two-dimensional image by one eye of the viewer and the other half of the pixels will be perceived as a second two-dimensional image that is perceived by the other eye of the viewer.

Assume now instead that multi-view three-dimensional content is passed by second portion 1504 of blocking region array 302. As used herein, the term “multi-view three dimensional content” refers to content in which multiple three-dimensional images are embedded, wherein the position of a viewer dictates which of the multiple three-dimensional images is currently perceived. Multi-view three-dimensional content will thus be formed from some multiple of the two two-dimensional images normally required to generate a single three-dimensional image (e.g., four two-dimensional images to provide two three-dimensional images, six two-dimensional images to provided three three-dimensional images, etc.). As also used herein, the term N-view three-dimensional content indicates that N three-dimensional images are embedded in the content, wherein each three-dimensional image is formed from two distinct two-dimensional images. Thus, 8-view three-dimensional content will comprise 8 different three-dimensional images formed from 16 different underlying two-dimensional images.

Thus, if it is assumed that second portion 1504 of blocking region array 302 passes 2-view three-dimensional content, then each of a the viewer's eyes will perceive only one-fourth of the pixels in the portion of pixel array 212 that is aligned with second portion 1504 of blocking region array 302. This is because one fourth of the pixels in the relevant portion of pixel array 212 will be perceived as a first two-dimensional image by one eye of the viewer and another fourth of the pixels will be perceived as a second two-dimensional image that is perceived by the other eye of the viewer. The remaining pixels will be dedicated to forming two additional two-dimensional images that are not perceived by the user.

Because the number of perceptible pixels per unit area will vary from display region to display region based on the type of image that is being presented in the region, the brightness of each display region as perceived by a viewer will vary when backlighting of uniform luminosity is provided. Thus, for example, if backlighting of uniform luminosity is provided by backlight panel 102, a viewer perceiving a two-dimensional image in a first display region of display 116 and a three-dimensional image in a second display region of display 116 will perceive that the two-dimensional image is brighter than the three-dimensional image. This disparity in perceived brightness between display regions may lead to an unsatisfactory viewing experience for a viewer.

To address this issue, the amount of light emitted by the individual light sources that make up backlight array 210 can be selectively controlled so that the brightness associated with each of a plurality of display regions of display system 116 can also be controlled. This enables display system 116 to provide a desired brightness level for each display region automatically and/or in response to user input. For example, backlight array 210 can be controlled such that a uniform level of brightness is achieved across different simultaneously-displayed display regions, even though the number of perceptible pixels per unit area varies from display region to display region. As another example, backlight array 210 can be controlled such that the level of brightness associated with a particular display region is increased or reduced without impacting (or without substantially impacting) the brightness of other simultaneously-displayed display regions.

To help illustrate this, FIG. 16 depicts a display system 1600 that implements a controllable backlight array as described immediately above. Display system 1600 comprises one implementation of display system 200. As shown in FIG. 16, display system 1600 includes a backlight panel 1610, a display panel 1620 and parallax barrier 300. These elements may be aligned with and positioned proximate to each other to create an integrated display unit.

As further shown in FIG. 16, display panel 1620 includes a pixel array 1622. Each of the pixels in a first portion 1624 of pixel array 1622 is individually controlled by a pixel array controller (such as pixel array controller 206 of FIG. 2) to pass a selected amount of light produced by backlight panel 1610, thereby producing display-generated light representative of a single two-dimensional image. Each of the pixels in a second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622 is individually controlled by the pixel array controller to pass a selected amount of light produced by backlight panel 1610, thereby producing display-generated light representative of two two-dimensional images that, when combined by the brain of a viewer positioned in an appropriate location relative to display system 1600, will be perceived as a single three-dimensional image.

Parallax barrier 300 includes blocking region array 302 that includes a first portion 1502 and a second portion 1504 as discussed above in reference to FIG. 15. Blocking region array 302 is aligned with pixel array 1622 such that first portion 1502 of blocking region array 302 overlays first portion 1624 of pixel array 1622 and second portion 1504 of blocking region array 302 overlays second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622. Consistent with the example configuration discussed above in reference to FIG. 15, a blocking array controller (such as blocking array controller 208 of FIG. 2) causes all the blocking regions within first portion 1502 of blocking region array 302 to be transparent. Thus, the two-dimensional image generated by the pixels of first portion 1624 of pixel array 1622 will simply be passed through to a viewer in a viewing space in front of display system 1600 (such as viewing space 108 in FIG. 2). Also consistent with the example configuration discussed above in reference to FIG. 15, the blocking array controller manipulates the blocking regions within second portion 1504 of blocking region array 302 to form a plurality of parallel transparent strips alternated with parallel opaque strips, thereby creating a parallax effect that enables the two two-dimensional images generated by the pixels of second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622 to be perceived as a three-dimensional image by a viewer in the viewing space in front of display system 1600.

Assume that a viewer is positioned such that he/she can perceive both the two-dimensional image passed by first portion 1502 of blocking region array 302 and the three-dimensional image formed through parallax by second portion 1504 of blocking region array 302. As discussed above, the pixels per unit area perceived by this viewer with respect to the two-dimensional image will be greater than the pixels per unit area perceived by this viewer with respect to the three-dimensional image. Thus, the two-dimensional image will appear brighter to the viewer than the three dimensional image when backlighting of constant luminosity is provided behind pixel array 1622.

To address this issue, backlight panel 1610 includes a backlight array 1612 comprising an arrangement of individually addressable and controllable light sources. As shown in FIG. 16, the light sources are arranged in a rectangular grid although other arrangements can be used. A backlight array controller (such as backlight array controller 204 of FIG. 2) causes the light sources included in a first portion 1614 of backlight array 1612 to emit a first amount of light and cause the light sources included in a second portion 1616 of backlight array 1612 to emit a second amount of light, wherein the second amount of light is different (e.g., greater) than the first amount of light. Backlight array 1612 is aligned with pixel array 1622 such that first portion 1624 of pixel array 1622 overlays first portion of 1614 of backlight array 1612 and second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622 overlays second portion 1616 of backlight array 1612. By controlling the luminosity of portions 1614 and 1616 of backlight array 1612 in this manner, the brightness of the two-dimensional image generated through the interaction of the pixels in first portion of 1624 of pixel array 1622 and first portion 1502 of blocking region array 302 can be kept consistent with the brightness of the three-dimensional image generated through the interaction of the pixels in second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622 and second portion 1504 of blocking region array 302. That is to say, the luminosity of portion 1616 of backlight array 1612 can be increased relative to the luminosity of portion 1614 of backlight array 1612 so that the three-dimensional image will appear as bright as the two-dimensional image.

Of course, the arrangement shown in FIG. 16 provides only a single teaching example. It should be noted that a display system in accordance with an embodiment can dynamically manipulate pixel array 1622 and blocking region array 302 in a coordinated fashion to dynamically and simultaneously create any number of display regions of different sizes and in different locations, wherein each of the created display regions can display one of two-dimensional, three-dimensional or multi-view three-dimensional content. To accommodate this, backlight array 1612 can also be dynamically manipulated in a coordinated fashion with pixel array 1622 and blocking region array 302 to ensure that each display region is perceived at a desired level of brightness.

To help illustrate this, FIG. 17 depicts a configuration of display system 1600 in which pixel array 1622 and blocking region array 302 have been modified to create different display regions than those created by the configuration shown in FIG. 16. In accordance with the example configuration shown in FIG. 17, a first portion 1722 of pixel array 1622 and a first portion 1732 of blocking region array 302 have been manipulated to create a first display region that displays multi-view three-dimensional content, a second portion 1724 of pixel array 1622 and a second portion 1734 of blocking region array 302 have been manipulated to create a second display region that displays a three-dimensional image, and a third portion of 1726 of pixel array 1622 and a third portion 1736 of blocking region array 302 have been manipulated to create a third display region that displays a two-dimensional image. To independently control the brightness of each of the first, second and third display regions, the amount of light emitted by light sources included within a first portion 1712, a second portion 1714 and a third portion 1716 of backlight array 1612 can respectively be controlled. For example, the light sources within first portion 1712 may be controlled to provide greater luminosity than the light sources within second portion 1714 and third portion 1716 as the number of perceivable pixels per unit area will be smallest in the first display region with which first portion 1712 is aligned. In further accordance with this example, the light sources within second portion 1714 may be controlled to provide greater luminosity than the light sources within third portion 1716 since the number of perceivable pixels per unit area will be smaller in the second display region with which second portion 1714 is aligned than the third display region with which third portion 1716 is aligned. Of course, if uniform luminosity is not desired across the various display regions then other control schemes may be used.

In the arrangements shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, there is a one-to-one correspondence between each light source in backlight array 1612 and every display pixel in pixel array 1622. However, this need not be the case to achieve regional brightness control. For example, in certain embodiments, the number of light sources provided in backlight array 1612 is less than the number of pixels provided in pixel array 1622. For instance, in one embodiment, a single light source may be provided in backlight array 1612 for every N pixels provided in pixel array 1622, wherein N is an integer greater than 1. In an embodiment in which the number of light sources in backlight array 1612 is less than the number of pixels in pixel array 1622, each light source may be arranged so that it provides backlighting for a particular group of pixels in pixel array 1622, although this is only an example. In alternate embodiments, the number of light sources provided in backlight array 1612 is greater than the number of pixels provided in pixel array 1622.

Also, in the examples described above, light sources in backlight array 1612 are described as being individually controllable. However, in alternate embodiments, light sources in backlight array 1612 may only be controllable in groups. This may facilitate a reduction in the complexity of the control infrastructure associated with backlight array 210. In still further embodiments, light sources in backlight array 1612 may be controllable both individually and in groups.

It is also noted that although FIGS. 16 and 17 show display system configurations in which a pixel array is disposed between a backlight array of individually addressable and controllable light sources and a blocking region array of an adaptable parallax barrier, in alternate implementations the blocking region array may be disposed between the pixel array and the backlight array (see, e.g., FIG. 1A). In such alternate implementations, selective control of the luminosity of groups or individual ones of the light sources in the backlight array may also be used to vary the backlighting luminosity associated with different display regions created by the interaction of the backlight array, the blocking region array and the pixel array.

A method for operating a display system that utilizes a backlight panel such as that described above will now be described with reference to flowchart 1800 of FIG. 18. The method of flowchart 1800 may be performed, for example, by display system 200 of FIG. 2. However, the method is not limited to that embodiment and may be implemented by other display systems.

As shown in FIG. 18, the method of flowchart 1800 begins at step 1802 in which an amount of light emitted by each light source in an array of light sources included in a backlight panel is individually controlled. For example, with reference to system 200 of FIG. 2, backlight array controller 204 may issue a control signal 216 (which may itself include one or more distinct control signals) to backlight array 210 included in backlight panel 102 to individually control an amount of light emitted by each light source in backlight array 210.

At step 1804, an amount of light originating from the backlight panel that is passed by each pixel in an array of pixels included in a display panel that is disposed proximate to the backlight panel is controlled. For example, with reference to system 200 of FIG. 2, pixel array controller 206 may issue a control signal 218 (which may itself include one or more distinct control signals) to pixel array 212 included in display panel 104 to control the amount of light originating from backlight panel 102 that is passed by each pixel in pixel array 212.

At step 1806, an adaptable parallax barrier is operated in conjunction with the backlight panel and the display panel to selectively generate one or more two-dimensional or three-dimensional user-viewable images. In accordance with one embodiment in which the display panel is disposed between the backlight panel and the adaptable parallax barrier, this step may involve controlling the adaptable parallax barrier to filter the light passed by the pixels in the array of pixels to selectively generate one or more two-dimensional or three-dimensional images. For example, with reference to system 200 of FIG. 2, blocking array controller 208 may issue a control signal 220 (which may itself include one or more distinct control signals) to blocking region array 214 of parallax barrier 106 to cause blocking region array 214 to filter the light passed by the pixels in pixel array 212 to selectively generate one or more two-dimensional or three-dimensional images. These images may be viewable by users 222 located in viewing space 108. In accordance with an alternative embodiment in which the adaptable parallax barrier is disposed between the backlight panel and the display panel, this step may involve controlling the adaptable parallax barrier to filter the light passed by the backlight panel to the pixels in the array of pixels to selectively generate one or more two-dimensional or three-dimensional images.

The method described above in reference to flowchart 1800 of FIG. 18 may advantageously be used to independently control the brightness of different display regions generated by a display system to simultaneously display corresponding two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images, and multi-view three-dimensional content. To help illustrate this, FIG. 19 depicts a flowchart 1900 of a method that represents a particular implementation of flowchart 1800 of FIG. 18. Like the method of flowchart 1800, the method of flowchart 1900 may be performed by display system 200 of FIG. 2, although the method may also be implemented by other display systems.

As shown in FIG. 19, the method of flowchart 1900 begins at step 1902 in which an adaptable parallax barrier is operated in conjunction with a backlight panel and a display panel to generate first user-viewable content in a first display region associated with a first subset of pixels in the array of pixels and to simultaneously generate second user-viewable content in a second display region associated with a second subset of pixels in the array of pixels. Step 1902 may represent, for example, one manner of performing step 1806 of flowchart 1800. With respect to example display system 200 of FIG. 2, this step may be carried out, for example, when blocking array controller 208 issues a control signal 220 (which may itself include one or more distinct control signals) to blocking region array 214 of parallax barrier 106 to cause blocking region array 214 to filter the light passed by a first subset of pixels in pixel array 212 to generate first user-viewable content in a first display region and to simultaneously filter light passed by a second subset of pixels in pixel array 212 to generate second user-viewable content in a second display region. Examples of such display regions are shown, for example, in FIGS. 16 and 17. For example, in FIG. 16, first portion 1502 of blocking region array 302 filters first portion 1624 of pixel array 1622 (which is analogous to the first subset of pixels referred to above) to form a first display region that provides first user-viewable content in the form of a two-dimensional image. Likewise, in FIG. 16, second portion 1504 of blocking region array 302 filters second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622 (which is analogous to the second subset of pixels referred to above) to form a second display region that provides second user-viewable content in the form of at least one three-dimensional image.

At step 1904, a first subset of an array of light sources is controlled to define a first backlight region having first brightness characteristics, the first backlight region being aligned with the first display region. Step 1904 may represent, for example, a step performed as part of performing step 1802 of flowchart 1800. With respect to example display system 200 of FIG. 2, this step may be carried out when backlight array controller 204 issues a control signal 216 (which may itself include one or more distinct control signals) to backlight array 210 included in backlight panel 102 to control the amount of light emitted by each light source in a first subset of the light sources in backlight array 210. An example of such a subset of light sources is first portion 1614 of backlight array 1612 which is controlled to provide a desired level of brightness to a first display region with which it is aligned, wherein the first display region is formed through the interaction of first portion 1624 of pixel array 1622 and first portion 1502 of blocking region array 302.

At step 1906, a second subset of the array of light sources is controlled to define a second backlight region having second brightness characteristics, the second backlight region being aligned with the second display region. Step 1906 may represent, for example, another step performed as part of performing step 1802 of flowchart 1800. With respect to example display system 200 of FIG. 2, this step may be carried out when backlight array controller 204 issues a control signal 216 (which may itself include one or more distinct control signals) to backlight array 210 included in backlight panel 102 to control the amount of light emitted by each light source in a second subset of the light sources in backlight array 210. An example of such a subset of light sources is second portion 1616 of backlight array 1612 which is controlled to provide a desired level of brightness to a second display region with which it is aligned, wherein the second display region is formed through the interaction of second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622 and second portion 1504 of blocking region array 302.

Although the foregoing method describes the definition of first and second backlight regions having different brightness characteristics, persons skilled in the relevant art(s) will readily appreciate that embodiments described herein are capable of defining any number of backlight regions having different brightness characteristics as needed to support any number of display regions.

In one embodiment, the first user-viewable content referenced in the foregoing method comprises a two-dimensional image and the second user-viewable content comprises a three-dimensional image. Since the number of viewable pixels per unit area will be less for a three-dimensional image than for a two-dimensional image, the foregoing method can advantageously be used to increase the backlighting in a region behind the pixels that are used to form the three-dimensional image relative to the backlighting in a region behind the pixels that are used to form the two-dimensional image, thereby reducing a perceived disparity in brightness between the two images.

In another embodiment, the first user-viewable content referenced in the foregoing method comprises a three-dimensional image and the second user-viewable content comprises multi-view three-dimensional content. Since the number of viewable pixels per unit area will be less for multi-view three-dimensional content than for a single three-dimensional image, the foregoing method can advantageously be used to increase the backlighting in a region behind the pixels that are used to form the multi-view three-dimensional content relative to the backlighting in a region behind the pixels that are used to form the three-dimensional image, thereby reducing a perceived disparity in brightness between the multi-view three-dimensional content and the three-dimensional image.

The regional backlighting capability described above can also advantageously be used to independently control the perceived brightness of the first user-viewable content and the second user-viewable content. Such independent control may be performed automatically in accordance with a predefined brightness control scheme and/or in response to user input received by the display system. It is further noted that the regional backlighting capability described above can advantageously be used in display system configurations in accordance with that shown in FIG. 1A (display panel disposed between backlighting panel and adaptable parallax barrier) and also in display system configurations in accordance with that shown in FIG. 1B (adaptable parallax barrier disposed between backlighting panel and display panel).

IV. Example Alternative Regional Brightness Control Schemes

The foregoing section described a system and method for controlling the brightness of different simultaneously-displayed display regions of a display system based on the use of a backlight array comprising a plurality of individually-controllable light sources. An alternative embodiment for achieving independent region-by-region brightness control will now be described that may be used in display systems that do not include such a backlight array. A block diagram of such a display system, denoted display system 2000, is shown in FIG. 20.

Display system 2000 of FIG. 20 is another example implementation of system 100 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 20, display system 2000 includes a display controller 2002 and display device 116 (which includes backlight panel 102, display panel 104 and parallax barrier 106). As further shown in FIG. 20, display panel 104 includes a pixel array 2010 and parallax barrier 106 includes a blocking region array 2012. Furthermore, display controller 2002 includes a backlight controller 2004, a pixel array controller 2006, and a blocking array controller 2008.

Unlike the backlight panel shown in system 200 of FIG. 2, backlight panel 102 in system 2000 does not include a backlight array of independently-controllable light sources. Rather, backlight panel 102 in system 2000 is intended to represent a conventional backlight panel that is designed to produce a sheet of light of uniform luminosity for illuminating pixels in pixel array 2010. Thus, in system 2000, backlight panel 102 comprises one or more light source(s), the brightness of which may only be controlled in unison by backlight controller 2004 through the transmission of a control signal 2014 (which may itself comprise one or more distinct control signals). For example, backlight controller 2004 may cause the light source(s) included in backlight panel 102 to be turned on or off in unison or may cause the light emitted by each light source(s) included in backlight panel 102 to be increased or reduced in unison.

Pixel array 2010 is analogous to pixel array 212 described above in detail in reference to system 200 of FIG. 2. As such, each pixel in pixel array 2010 is individually addressable and controllable to select an amount of light originating from backlight panel 102 that will be passed thereby, thus allowing the intensity of each pixel to be varied.

Parallax barrier 106 is positioned proximate to a surface of pixel array 2010. Blocking region array 2012 is a layer of parallax barrier 106 that includes a plurality of blocking regions arranged in an array and is analogous to blocking region array 214 as described above in reference to system 200 of FIG. 2. Thus, each blocking region of blocking region array 2012 is configured to be selectively opaque or transparent.

Display controller 2002 is configured to generate control signals to enable display device 116 to display two-dimensional and three-dimensional images to users 2020 in viewing space 108. For example, pixel array controller 2006 (which is analogous to pixel array controller 206 described above in reference to system 200 of FIG. 2) is configured to generate a control signal 2016 that is received by pixel array 2010. Control signal 2016 may include one or more control signals used to cause pixels of pixel array 2010 to emit display-generated light 112 of particular desired colors and/or intensity. Blocking array controller 2008 (which is analogous to blocking array controller 208 described above in reference to system 200 of FIG. 2) is configured to generate a control signal 2018 that is received by blocking region array 2012. Control signal 2018 may include one or more control signals used to cause each of the blocking regions of blocking region array 2012 to be transparent or opaque. In this manner, blocking region array 2012 filters display-generated light 112 to generate filtered light 114 that includes one or more two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images that may be viewed by users 2020 in viewing space 108.

As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings provided herein, system 2000 may be utilized to simultaneously display two-dimensional and three-dimensional images in different display regions by selectively modifying portions of blocking region array 2012 that correspond to different areas of pixel array 2010. As discussed above, a viewer that is capable of simultaneously viewing a two-dimensional image in a first display region and a three-dimensional image in a second display region will perceive a different number of pixels per unit area in each display region. This will result in each display region having a different perceived brightness when backlighting of uniform luminosity is provided by backlight panel 102, which may lead to an unsatisfactory viewing experience for a viewer.

To address this issue, the amount of light passed by the individual pixels that make up pixel array 2010 can be selectively controlled so that the brightness associated with each of a plurality of display regions of display system 116 can also be controlled. This enables display system 116 to provide a desired brightness level for each display region automatically and/or in response to user input. For example, the intensity of the pixels in pixel array 2010 can be controlled such that a uniform level of brightness is achieved across different simultaneously-displayed display regions, even though the number of perceptible pixels per unit area varies from display region to display region. As another example, the intensity of the pixels in pixel array 2010 can be controlled such that the level of brightness associated with a particular display region is increased or reduced without impacting (or without substantially impacting) the brightness of other simultaneously-displayed display regions.

To help illustrate this, FIG. 21 depicts a display system 2100 that implements a regional brightness control scheme based on pixel intensity as described immediately above. Display system 2100 comprises one implementation of display system 2000. As shown in FIG. 21, display system 2100 includes a display panel 2102 and a parallax barrier 2112. Display panel 2102 is one example of display panel 104 of FIG. 20 while parallax barrier 2112 is one example of parallax barrier 106 of FIG. 20. Display system 2100 also includes a backlight panel, although this element is not shown in FIG. 21 for ease of illustration. These elements may be aligned with and positioned proximate to each other to create an integrated display unit.

As further shown in FIG. 21, display panel 2102 includes a pixel array 2104. Each of the pixels in a first portion 2106 of pixel array 2104 is individually controlled by a pixel array controller (such as pixel array controller 2006 of FIG. 20) to pass a selected amount of light produced by a backlight panel (not shown in FIG. 20), thereby producing display-generated light representative of a single two-dimensional image. Each of the pixels in a second portion 2108 of pixel array 2104 is individually controlled by the pixel array controller to pass a selected amount of light produced by the backlight panel, thereby producing display-generated light representative of two two-dimensional images that, when combined by the brain of a viewer positioned in an appropriate location relative to display system 2100, will be perceived as a single three-dimensional image.

Parallax barrier 2112 includes blocking region array 2114 that includes a first portion 2116 and a second portion 2118. Blocking region array 2114 is aligned with pixel array 2104 such that first portion 2116 of blocking region array 2114 overlays first portion 2106 of pixel array 2104 and second portion 2118 of blocking region array 2112 overlays second portion 2108 of pixel array 2104. A blocking array controller (such as blocking array controller 2008 of FIG. 20) causes all the blocking regions within first portion 2116 of blocking region array 2114 to be transparent. Thus, the two-dimensional image generated by the pixels of first portion 2106 of pixel array 2104 will simply be passed through to a viewer in a viewing space in front of display system 2100 (such as viewing space 108 in FIG. 20). Furthermore, the blocking array controller manipulates the blocking regions within second portion 2118 of blocking region array 2114 to form a plurality of parallel transparent strips alternated with parallel opaque strips, thereby creating a parallax effect that enables the two two-dimensional images generated by the pixels of second portion 2108 of pixel array 2104 to be perceived as a three-dimensional image by a viewer in the viewing space in front of display system 2100.

Assume that a viewer is positioned such that he/she can perceive both the two-dimensional image passed by first portion 2116 of blocking region array 2114 and the three-dimensional image formed through parallax by second portion 2118 of blocking region array 2114. As discussed above, the pixels per unit area perceived by this viewer with respect to the two-dimensional image will be greater than the pixels per unit area perceived by this viewer with respect to the three-dimensional image. Thus, the two-dimensional image will appear brighter to the viewer than the three dimensional image when backlighting of constant luminosity is provided behind pixel array 2104.

To address this issue, the pixel array controller may selectively cause the pixels included in first portion 2106 of pixel array 2104 to pass less light from the backlight panel (i.e., become less intense), thereby reducing the brightness of the two-dimensional image produced from the pixels in first portion 2106 of pixel array 2104. Alternatively or additionally, the pixel array controller may selectively cause the pixels included in second portion 2108 of pixel array 2104 to pass more light from the backlight panel (i.e., become more intense), thereby increasing the brightness of the three-dimensional image produced from the pixels in second portion 2108 of pixel array 2104. By controlling the intensity of the pixels in portions 2106 and 2108 of pixel array 2104 in this manner, the brightness of the two-dimensional image produced from the pixels in first portion 2106 of pixel array 2104 and the brightness of the three-dimensional image produced from the pixels in second portion 2108 of pixel array 2104 can be kept consistent. Additionally, by providing independent control over the intensity of the pixels in portions 2106 and 2108 of pixel array 2104, independent control over the brightness of the two-dimensional and three-dimensional images generated therefrom can also be achieved.

Of course, the arrangement shown in FIG. 21 provides only a single teaching example. It should be noted that a display system in accordance with an embodiment can dynamically manipulate pixel array 2104 and blocking region array 2114 in a coordinated fashion to dynamically and simultaneously create any number of display regions of different sizes and in different locations, wherein each of the created display regions can display one of two-dimensional, three-dimensional or multi-view three-dimensional content. To accommodate this, the intensity of the pixels in pixel array 2104 can also be dynamically manipulated in a coordinated fashion to ensure that each display region is perceived at a desired level of brightness.

A method for operating a display system that utilizes a regional brightness control scheme based on pixel intensity such as that described above will now be described with reference to flowchart 2200 of FIG. 22. The method of flowchart 2200 may be performed, for example, by display system 2000 of FIG. 20. However, the method is not limited to that embodiment and may be implemented by other display systems.

As shown in FIG. 22, the method of flowchart 2000 begins at step 2202 in which an adaptable parallax barrier is operated in conjunction with an array of pixels in a display panel and a backlight panel to generate first user-viewable content in a first display region associated with a first subset of pixels in the array of pixels and to generate second user-viewable content in a second display region associated with a second subset of pixels in the array of pixels. In accordance with one embodiment in which the display panel is disposed between the backlight panel and the adaptable parallax barrier, step 2202 may involve controlling the adaptable parallax barrier to filter the light passed by the first subset of pixels in the array of pixels to generate the first user-viewable content in the first display region and to filter the light passed by the second subset of pixels in the array of pixels to generate the second user-viewable content in the second display region. With respect to example display system 2000 of FIG. 20, this step may be carried out when blocking array controller 2008 issues a control signal 2018 (which may itself include one or more distinct control signals) to blocking region array 2012 of parallax barrier 106 to cause blocking region array 2012 to filter the light passed by a first subset of pixels in pixel array 2010 to generate first user-viewable content in a first display region and to filter the light passed by a second subset of pixels in pixel array 2010 to generate second user-viewable content in a second display region. With reference to the example of FIG. 21, the first subset of pixels may be first portion 2106 of pixel array 2104 and the first user-viewable content may be the two-dimensional image formed by those pixels. Also, with continued reference to the example of FIG. 21, the second subset of pixels may be second portion 2108 of pixel array 2104 and the second user-viewable content may be the three-dimensional image formed by those pixels in conjunction with second portion 2118 of blocking region array 2114. In accordance with one embodiment in which the adaptable parallax barrier is disposed between the backlight panel and the display panel, step 2202 may involve controlling the adaptable parallax barrier to filter the light passed by the backlight panel to the first subset of pixels in the array of pixels to generate the first user-viewable content in the first display region and to filter the light passed by the backlight panel to the second subset of pixels in the array of pixels to generate the second user-viewable content in the second display region.

At step 2204, the amount of light passed by one or more pixels in the first subset of pixels is selectively increased or reduced to increase or reduce the brightness of the first display region. This step may be performed based on the type of content (e.g., two-dimensional content, three-dimensional content, multi-view three-dimensional content) being displayed by the first display region. With respect to example display system 2000 of FIG. 20, this step may be carried out when pixel array controller 2006 issues a control signal 2016 (which may itself include one or more distinct control signals) to pixel array 2010 that causes the amount of light passed by one or more pixels in the first subset of pixels of pixel array 2010 to be increased or reduced. With reference to the example of FIG. 21, this step may involve increasing or reducing the amount of light passed by one or more pixels in first portion 2106 of pixel array 2104.

At step 2206, the amount of light passed by one or more pixels in the second subset of pixels is selectively increased or reduced to increase or reduce the brightness of the second display region. This step may be performed based on the type of content (e.g., two-dimensional content, three-dimensional content, multi-view three-dimensional content) being displayed by the second display region. With respect to example display system 2000 of FIG. 20, this step may be carried out when pixel array controller 2006 issues a control signal 2006 (which may itself include one or more distinct control signals) to pixel array 2010 that causes the amount of light passed by one or more pixels in the second subset of pixels of pixel array 2010 to be increased or reduced. With reference to the example of FIG. 21, this step may involve increasing or reducing the amount of light passed by one or more pixels in second portion 2108 of pixel array 2104.

The method described above in reference to flowchart 2200 of FIG. 22 may advantageously be used to independently control the brightness of different display regions generated by a display system to simultaneously display corresponding two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images, and multi-view three-dimensional content. Although the foregoing method describes controlling the brightness of first and second display regions, persons skilled in the relevant art(s) will readily appreciate that embodiments described herein are capable of controlling the brightness of any number of display regions.

In one embodiment, the first user-viewable content referenced in the foregoing method comprises a two-dimensional image and the second user-viewable content comprises a three-dimensional image. Since the number of viewable pixels per unit area will be less for a three-dimensional image than for a two-dimensional image, the foregoing method can advantageously be used to increase the intensity of the pixels that are used to form the three-dimensional image and/or reduce the intensity of the pixels that are used to form the two-dimensional image, thereby reducing a perceived disparity in brightness between the two images.

In another embodiment, the first user-viewable content referenced in the foregoing method comprises a three-dimensional image and the second user-viewable content comprises multi-view three-dimensional content. Since the number of viewable pixels per unit area will be less for multi-view three-dimensional content than for a single three-dimensional image, the foregoing method can advantageously be used to increase the intensity of the pixels that are used to form the multi-view three-dimensional content and/or reduce the intensity of the pixels that are used to form the three-dimensional image, thereby reducing a perceived disparity in brightness between the multi-view three-dimensional content and the three-dimensional image.

The regional brightness control capability described above can also advantageously be used to independently control the perceived brightness of the first user-viewable content and the second user-viewable content. Such independent control may be performed automatically in accordance with a predefined brightness control scheme and/or in response to user input received by the display system.

In one embodiment, a regional brightness control scheme combines the use of a backlight array of independently-controllable light sources as described in the preceding section with regional pixel intensity control. The advantages of such a control scheme will now be described with reference to FIG. 23. FIG. 23 illustrates a front perspective view of display panel 1620, which was described above in reference to FIG. 16. Consistent with the description of FIG. 16 provided above, display panel 1620 includes a pixel array 1622 that includes a first portion 1624 and a second portion 1626, wherein each of first portion 1624 and second portion 1626 includes a different subset of the pixels in pixel array 1622. As further described above in reference to FIG. 16, first portion 1624 of pixel array 1622 is illuminated by backlighting provided by an aligned first portion 1614 of backlight array 1612, which is a component of backlight panel 1610 (not shown in FIG. 23). Second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622 is illuminated by backlighting provided by an aligned second portion 1616 of backlight array 1612. In one example the amount of light emitted by each light source in second portion 1616 of backlight array 1612 to illuminate second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622 is controlled such that it is greater than the amount of light emitted by each light source in first portion 1614 of backlight array 1612 to illuminate first portion 1624 of pixel array 1622. This control scheme may be applied, for example, to cause images formed from the different portions of pixel array 1622 to appear to have a uniform brightness level.

However, the difference in the amount of light emitted by each light source in first and second portions 1614 and 1616 of backlight array 1612 to illuminate corresponding first and second portions 1624 and 1626 of pixel array 1624 may also give rise to undesired visual artifacts. In particular, the difference may cause pixels in boundary areas immediately outside of second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622 to appear brighter than desired in relation to other pixels in first portion 1624 of pixel array 1622. For example, as shown in FIG. 23, the pixels in boundary area 2302 immediately outside of second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622 may appear brighter than desired in relation to other pixels in first portion 1624 of pixel array 1622. This may be due to the fact that the increased luminosity provided by the light sources in second portion 1616 of backlight array 1612 has “spilled over” to impact the pixels in boundary area 2302, causing those pixels to be brighter than desired. Conversely, the difference may cause pixels in boundary areas immediately inside of second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622 to appear dimmer than desired in relation to other pixels in second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622. For example, as shown in FIG. 23, the pixels in boundary area 2304 immediately inside of second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622 may appear dimmer than desired in relation to other pixels in second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622. This may be due to the fact that the reduced luminosity of the light sources in second portion 1616 of backlight array 1612 has “spilled over” to impact the pixels in boundary area 2304, causing those pixels to be dimmer than desired.

To address this issue, an embodiment may selectively control the amount of light passed by the pixels located in boundary region 2302 or boundary region 2304 to compensate for the undesired visual effects. For example, with respect to example display system 200 described above in reference to FIG. 2, pixel array controller 206 may selectively cause the pixels included in boundary area 2302 of pixel array 1622 to pass less light from the backlight panel (i.e., become less intense), thereby reducing the brightness of the pixels in boundary area 2302, thus compensating for an undesired increase in brightness due to “spill over” from light sources in second portion 1616 of backlight array 1612. Alternatively or additionally, pixel array controller 206 may selectively cause the pixels included in boundary area 2304 of pixel array 1622 to pass more light from the backlight panel (i.e., become more intense), thereby increasing the brightness of the pixels in boundary area 2304, thus compensating for an undesired reduction in brightness due to “spill over” from light sources in first portion 1614 of backlight array 1612. By controlling the intensity of the pixels in boundary areas 2302 and 2304 in this manner, the undesired visual effects described above that can arise from the use of a backlight array to provide regional brightness control can be mitigated or avoided entirely.

The illustration provided in FIG. 23 provides only one example of undesired visual effects that can arise from the use of a backlight array to provide regional brightness control. Persons skilled in the relevant art(s) will appreciate that many different display regions having many different brightness characteristics can be simultaneously generated by a display system in accordance with embodiments, thereby giving rise to different undesired visual effects relating to the brightness of boundary areas inside and outside of the different display regions. In each case, the intensity of pixels located in such boundaries areas can be selectively increased or reduced to mitigate or avoid such undesired visual effects.

A method for implementing regional brightness control in a display system that combines the use of a backlight array of independently-controllable light sources with regional pixel intensity control such as that discussed above will now be described with reference to flowchart 2400 of FIG. 24. The method of flowchart 2400 may be performed, for example, by display system 200 of FIG. 2. However, the method is not limited to that embodiment and may be implemented by other display systems.

As shown in FIG. 24, the method of flowchart 2400 begins at step 2402 in which an adaptable parallax barrier is operated in conjunction with a display panel that includes an array of pixels and a backlight panel that includes an array of light sources to generate first user-viewable content in a first display region associated with a first pixel region in the array of pixels and to simultaneously generate second user-viewable content in a second display region associated with a second pixel region in the array of pixels to, the second pixel region being adjacent to the first pixel region. In accordance with an example embodiment in which the display panel is disposed between the backlight panel and the adaptable parallax barrier, this step may involve controlling the adaptable parallax barrier to filter light passed by the first pixel region in the array of pixels to generate the first user-viewable content in the first display region and to simultaneously filter light passed by the second pixel region in the array of pixels to generate the second user-viewable content in the second display region, the second pixel region being adjacent to the first pixel region. Each of the first and second pixel regions may comprise a different subset of pixels in the array of pixels. With respect to example display system 200 of FIG. 2, this step may be carried out when blocking array controller 208 issues a control signal 220 (which may itself include one or more distinct control signals) to blocking region array 214 of parallax barrier 106 to cause blocking region array 214 to filter the light passed by a first pixel region in pixel array 212 to generate first user-viewable content in a first display region and to simultaneously filter light passed by a second pixel region in pixel array 212 that is adjacent to the first pixel region to generate second user-viewable content in a second display region. Examples of such display regions are shown, for example, in FIGS. 16 and 17. For example, in FIG. 16, first portion 1502 of blocking region array 302 filters first portion 1624 of pixel array 1622 (which is analogous to the first pixel region referred to above) to form a first display region that provides first user-viewable content in the form of a two-dimensional image. Likewise, in FIG. 16, second portion 1504 of blocking region array 302 filters second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622 (which is adjacent to first portion 1624 of pixel array 1622 and is analogous to the second pixel region referred to above) to form a second display region that provides second user-viewable content in the form of at least one three-dimensional image.

At step 2404, a first subset of an array of light sources is controlled to define a first backlight region having first brightness characteristics, the first backlight region being aligned with the first display region. With respect to example display system 200 of FIG. 2, this step may be carried out when backlight array controller 204 issues a control signal 216 (which may itself include one or more distinct control signals) to backlight array 210 included in backlight panel 102 to control the amount of light emitted by each light source in a first subset of the light sources in backlight array 210. An example of such a subset of light sources is first portion 1614 of backlight array 1612 which is controlled to provide a desired level of brightness to a first display region with which it is aligned, wherein the first display region is formed through the interaction of first portion 1624 of pixel array 1622 and first portion 1502 of blocking region array 302.

At step 2406, a second subset of the array of light sources is controlled to define a second backlight region having second brightness characteristics, the second backlight region being aligned with the second display region. With respect to example display system 200 of FIG. 2, this step may be carried out when backlight array controller 204 issues a control signal 216 (which may itself include one or more distinct control signals) to backlight array 210 included in backlight panel 102 to control the amount of light emitted by each light source in a second subset of the light sources in backlight array 210. An example of such a subset of light sources is second portion 1616 of backlight array 1612 which is controlled to provide a desired level of brightness to a second display region with which it is aligned, wherein the second display region is formed through the interaction of second portion 1626 of pixel array 1622 and second portion 1504 of blocking region array 302.

At step 2408, an amount of light passed by at least one pixel in a perimeter area of the first pixel region is selectively increased or reduced based on the brightness characteristics of one or both of the first backlight region and the second backlight region. With respect to example display system 200 of FIG. 2, this step may be carried out when pixel array controller 206 issues a control signal 218 (which may itself include one or more distinct control signals) to pixel array 212 that causes the amount of light passed by one or more pixels in a perimeter area of the first pixel region in pixel array 212 to be selectively increased or reduced based on the brightness characteristics of one or both of the first backlight region and the second backlight region. With reference to the example of FIG. 23, this step may involve selectively increasing or reducing the amount of light passed by one or more pixels in boundary areas 2302 or 2304 to negate or reduce a “spill over” effect that results from a disparity in the amount of light emitted by first portion 1614 and second portion 1616 of backlight array 1612. Depending upon the implementation, the amount by which the intensity of a pixel in a perimeter area is increased or reduced may be based upon a measure of disparity between the brightness of adjacent pixels, adjacent backlights, adjacent pixel regions and/or adjacent backlight regions. In still further embodiments, the amount by which the intensity of a pixel in a perimeter area is increased or reduced may be based on additional or alternative measures or factors.

In an alternative implementation, backlight panel 102 further comprises a grating structure that limits an amount of light dispersed by each of the light sources in backlight array 210, thereby mitigating or avoiding the “spill over” problem described above. FIG. 25 illustrates a display system 2500 that includes such a grating structure. In particular, FIG. 25 is an exploded view of a display system 2500 that includes a backlight panel 2510 that comprises a backlight array 2512 of independently-controllable light sources 2514 and a grating structure 2520. Grating structure 2520 is disposed in front of backlight array 2512 and aligned with backlight array 2512 in such a manner that individual openings 2522 in grating structure 2520 align with individual light sources 2514 in backlight array 2512. Each opening 2522 acts to partially block the transmission of light from a corresponding light source so that the light will not illuminate pixels other than the pixel directly in front of the light source or so that the amount of light that reaches such other pixels is reduced. FIG. 26 is a partial view of grating structure 2520 that provides a larger view of an individual opening 2522.

Although grating structure 2520 shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 is shown to have square openings 2522, persons skilled in the relevant art(s) will appreciate that openings having other shapes may be used to perform the function of partially block the light emitted by the light sources in backlight array 2512. For example, circular openings, triangular openings, hexagonal openings, octagonal openings, or other shaped openings may be used. Furthermore, although grating structure 2520 shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 is structured such that each opening is aligned with a single light source in backlight array 2512, in other embodiments a single opening may be aligned with a plurality of light sources in light source array. In other words, an opening in the grating structure may be used to limit the amount of light dispersed by a group of light sources rather than a single light source.

In one embodiment, grating structure 2520 is disposed directly on top of backlight array 2512. In alternate embodiments, grating structure 2520 is disposed in front of backlight array but not directly on top of backlight array 2512.

In alternate embodiments, a regional brightness control scheme is implemented in a display system that does not include a backlight panel at all, but instead utilizes a display panel comprising an array of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) or polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs) which function as display pixels and also provide their own illumination. FIG. 27 is a block diagram of an example display system 2700 in accordance with such an embodiment. Display system 2700 includes a display device 2712 that is capable of simultaneously displaying two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images and multi-view three-dimensional content via different display regions.

As shown in FIG. 27, display device 2712 includes a display panel 2702 and a parallax barrier 2704. Display panel 2702 emits display-generated light 2708, which includes image information. Display-generated light 2708 is received by parallax barrier 2704, which filters display-generated light 2708 to pass filtered light 2710. For instance, parallax barrier 2704 may filter display-generated light 2708 with a plurality of barrier regions that are selectively opaque or transparent. Filtered light 2710 includes a plurality of images formed from the image information included in display-generated light 2708. For example, filtered light 2710 may include one or more two-dimensional images and/or one or more three-dimensional images. Filtered light 2710 is received in a viewing space 2706 proximate to display device 2712. One or more users may be present in viewing space 2706 to view the two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images included in filtered light 2710.

As shown in FIG. 27, display panel 2702 includes an OLED/PLED pixel array 2714. OLED/PLED pixel array 2714 comprises an array of OLEDs or PLEDs, each of which is individually addressable and controllable to selectively produce light of a desired color and intensity. Unlike the LCD pixels described above, OLED/PLED pixels provide their own illumination and thus require no backlight.

Parallax barrier 2704 is positioned proximate to a surface of OLED/PLED pixel array 2714 and includes a blocking region array 2716. Blocking region array 2716 is a layer of parallax barrier 2704 that includes a plurality of blocking regions arranged in an array and is analogous to blocking region array 214 as described above in reference to system 200 of FIG. 2. Thus, each blocking region of blocking region array 2716 is configured to be selectively opaque or transparent.

Display system 2700 also includes a display controller 2720 that includes a pixel array controller 2722 and a blocking array controller 2724. Display controller 2720 is configured to generate control signals to enable display device 2712 to display two-dimensional and three-dimensional images to users 2726 in viewing space 2706. For example, pixel array controller 2722 is configured to generate a control signal 2730 that is received by OLED/PLED pixel array 2714. Control signal 2730 may include one or more control signals used to cause pixels of OLED/PLED pixel array 2714 to emit display-generated light 2708 of particular desired colors and/or intensity. Blocking array controller 2724 (which is analogous to blocking array controller 208 described above in reference to system 200 of FIG. 2) is configured to generate a control signal 2732 that is received by blocking region array 2716. Control signal 2732 may include one or more control signals used to cause each of the blocking regions of blocking region array 2716 to be transparent or opaque. In this manner, blocking region array 2716 filters display-generated light 2708 to generate filtered light 2710 that includes one or more two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images that may be viewed by users 2726 in viewing space 2706.

As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings provided herein, system 2700 may be utilized to simultaneously display two-dimensional and three-dimensional images in different display regions by selectively modifying portions of blocking region array 2716 that correspond to different areas of OLED/PLED pixel array 2714. As discussed above, a viewer that is capable of simultaneously viewing a two-dimensional image in a first display region and a three-dimensional image in a second display region will perceive a different number of pixels per unit area in each display region. This will result in each display region having a different perceived brightness when a uniform display-wide luminosity scheme is implemented by the pixels in OLED/PLED pixel array 2714, which may lead to an unsatisfactory viewing experience for a viewer.

To address this issue, the amount of light emitted by the individual OLED/PLED pixels that make up OLED/PLED pixel array 2714 can be selectively controlled so that the brightness associated with each of a plurality of display regions of display system 2712 can also be controlled. This enables display system 2712 to provide a desired brightness level for each display region automatically and/or in response to user input. For example, OLED/PLED pixel array 2714 can be controlled such that a uniform level of brightness is achieved across different simultaneously-displayed display regions, even though the number of perceptible pixels per unit area varies from display region to display region. As another example, OLED/PLED pixel array 2714 can be controlled such that the level of brightness associated with a particular display region is increased or reduced without impacting (or without substantially impacting) the brightness of other simultaneously-displayed display regions.

A method for operating a display system that implements a regional brightness control scheme by controlling the amount of light emitted by OLED/PLED pixels such as that described above will now be described with reference to flowchart 2800 of FIG. 28. The method of flowchart 2800 may be performed, for example, by display system 2700 of FIG. 27. However, the method is not limited to that embodiment and may be implemented by other display systems.

As shown in FIG. 28, the method of flowchart 2800 begins at step 2802 in which a first subset of LEDs in an array of LEDs in a display panel is controlled to define a first pixel region having first brightness characteristics. With respect to example display system 2700 of FIG. 27, this step may be carried out when pixel array controller 2722 issues a control signal 2730 (which may itself include one or more distinct control signals) to OLED/PLED pixel array 2714 to cause a first subset of the pixels in OLED/PLED pixel array 2714 to produce display-generated light representative of one or more images at a first desired brightness level.

At step 2804, a second subset of LEDs in the array of LEDs is controlled to define a second pixel region having second brightness characteristics. With respect to example display system 2700 of FIG. 27, this step may be carried out when pixel array controller 2722 issues a control signal 2730 (which may itself include one or more distinct control signals) to OLED/PLED pixel array 2714 to cause a second subset of the pixels in OLED/PLED pixel array 2714 to produce display-generated light representative of one or more images at a second desired brightness level.

At step 2806, an adaptable parallax barrier that is positioned proximate to the display panel is configured to filter light emitted by the first pixel region to form first user-viewable content and to simultaneously filter light emitted by the second pixel region to form second user-viewable content. With respect to example display system 2700 of FIG. 27, this step may be carried out when blocking array controller 2724 issues a control signal 2732 to blocking region array 2716 of parallax barrier 2704 to cause blocking region array 2716 to filter the display-generated light passed by the first subset of pixels in OLED/PLED pixel array 2714, thereby generating first user-viewable content and to simultaneously filter the display-generated light passed by the second subset of pixels in OLED/PLED pixel array 2714, thereby generating second user-viewable content.

The method described above in reference to flowchart 2800 of FIG. 28 may advantageously be used to independently control the brightness of different display regions generated by a display system to simultaneously display corresponding two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images, and multi-view three-dimensional content. Although the foregoing method describes controlling the brightness of images produced from the pixels in first and second pixel regions, persons skilled in the relevant art(s) will readily appreciate that embodiments described herein are capable of controlling the brightness of images produced from any number of different pixel regions.

In one embodiment, the first user-viewable content referenced in the foregoing method comprises a two-dimensional image and the second user-viewable content comprises a three-dimensional image. Since the number of viewable pixels per unit area will be less for a three-dimensional image than for a two-dimensional image, the foregoing method can advantageously be used to increase the intensity of the OLED/PLED pixels that are used to form the three-dimensional image and/or reduce the intensity of the OLED/PLED pixels that are used to form the two-dimensional image, thereby reducing a perceived disparity in brightness between the two images.

In another embodiment, the first user-viewable content referenced in the foregoing method comprises a three-dimensional image and the second user-viewable content comprises multi-view three-dimensional content. Since the number of viewable pixels per unit area will be less for multi-view three-dimensional content than for a single three-dimensional image, the foregoing method can advantageously be used to increase the intensity of the OLED/PLED pixels that are used to form the multi-view three-dimensional content and/or reduce the intensity of the OLED/PLED pixels that are used to form the three-dimensional image, thereby reducing a perceived disparity in brightness between the multi-view three-dimensional content and the three-dimensional image.

The regional brightness control capability described above can also advantageously be used to independently control the perceived brightness of the first user-viewable content and the second user-viewable content. Such independent control may be performed automatically in accordance with a predefined brightness control scheme and/or in response to user input received by the display system.

Where OLED/PLED pixel regions such as those described above are adjacent to each other, it is possible that the brightness characteristics of one pixel region can impact the perceived brightness of an adjacent pixel region having different brightness characteristics, creating an undesired visual effect. For example, a first OLED/PLED pixel region having a relatively high level of brightness to support the viewing of multi-view three-dimensional content may be adjacent to a second OLED/PLED pixel region having a relatively low level of brightness to support the viewing of two-dimensional content. In this scenario, light from pixels in a perimeter area of the first OLED/PLED pixel region that are close to the boundary between the two pixel regions may “spill over” into a perimeter area of the second OLED/PLED pixel region. This may cause pixels in the perimeter area of the second OLED/PLED pixel region to appear brighter than desired in relation to other pixels in the second OLED/PLED pixel region. Conversely, pixels in the perimeter area of the first OLED/PLED pixel array may appear dimmer than desired in relation to other pixels in the first OLED/PLED pixel region because of the adjacency to the second OLED/PLED pixel region. To address this issue, it is possible to selectively increase or reduce the brightness of one or more OLED/PLED pixels in either perimeter area to reduce the “spill over” effect arising from the different brightness characteristics between the regions.

In still further embodiments, a regional brightness control scheme is implemented in a display system that includes an adaptable parallax barrier that also supports brightness regulation via an “overlay” approach that will be described herein.

Conceptually, embodiments described herein attempt to match and support independent regional adjustment of backlighting output to produce a non-uniform output that compensates for regional differences in an adaptable screen assembly, wherein such screen assembly has inherent regional light blocking characteristics (i.e. various parallax barrier configurations). That is, embodiments described herein attempt to maintain standard brightness across various regional screen configurations, wherein each region has differing light blocking characteristics. Also, because of backlighting dispersion in zones running along the perimeter of regional boundaries, techniques to compensate or to minimize backlighting dispersion are applied in accordance with various embodiments described herein. For example, structures such as grating structure 2520 shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 may be applied to address this issue or pixel “lightening/darkening” techniques such as those described above may be used.

An embodiment will now be described in which a brightness regulation overlay that is either independent of or integrated with an adaptable parallax barrier is used to help achieve the aforementioned goals of maintaining standard brightness across various regional screen configurations and compensating for or minimizing backlighting dispersion. In particular, FIG. 29 illustrates a display system 2900 in accordance with such an embodiment. Display system 2900 includes a display device 2904 and a display controller 2902 that can control the operation of display device 2904 so that it will simultaneously display two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images and multi-view three-dimensional content via different display regions.

As shown in FIG. 29, display device 2904 includes a display panel 2924 and an adaptable light manipulator 2922. Display panel 2924 includes a pixel array 2932 that comprises a two-dimensional array of pixels, each of which is individually addressable and controllable to selectively produce light of a desired color and intensity. Such pixels may be, for example, LCD pixels that require backlighting or OLED/PLED pixels that provide their own illumination. Control over the state of the pixels in pixel array 2932 is provided by a pixel array controller 2914 within display controller 2902.

Adaptable light manipulator 2922 comprises a parallax barrier and a brightness regulation overlay. The parallax barrier may comprise a parallax barrier such as parallax barrier 106 described above in reference to FIG. 1 in which individual blocking regions in a blocking region array can be selectively rendered transparent or opaque in order to support a desired 2D, 3D, or regional 2D and/or 3D viewing experience. The brightness regulation overlay comprises an element that allows regional dimming through various tones of “grey” pixels. In one example embodiment, the parallax barrier and the brightness regulation overlay are implemented as a non-color (i.e., black, white and grayscale) LCD sandwich, although other implementations may be used. The combined adaptable parallax barrier and brightness regulation overlay provide full transparent or opaque states for each pixel, as well as a grayscale alternative that can be used to “balance out” brightness variations caused by the parallax barrier itself Control over the individual blocking regions of the parallax barrier and the individual grayscale pixels of the brightness regulation overlay is provided by parallax barrier control logic 2942 and overlay control logic 2944 included within display controller 2902. These elements provide coordinated signaling to the pixels of the parallax barrier and the brightness regulation overlay (collectively referred to below as the manipulator pixels) to create opaque and transparent barrier elements associated with a particular parallax barrier configuration and a grayscale support there between to allow creation of overlays.

Note that display system 2900 can be implemented in configurations in which display panel 2924 is disposed between a backlight panel and adaptable light manipulator 2922 as well as in configurations in which adaptable light manipulator 2922 is disposed between a backlight panel and display panel 2924. In either case, the desired display of 2D/3D regions and simultaneous backlight regulation can be achieved. In an embodiment in which pixel array 2932 of display panel 2924 comprises OLED or PLED pixels that are self-illuminating, no backlight panel is needed and adaptable light manipulator 2922 is disposed “in front of” display panel 2924 (i.e., between display panel 2924 and the users in a viewing space in front of display system 2900).

FIG. 30 illustrates two exemplary configurations of adaptable light manipulator 2922 in accordance with an embodiment in which adaptable light manipulator 2922 is implemented as a light manipulating LCD sandwich with manipulator grayscale pixels. In FIG. 30, the grayscale pixels map to the display pixels on a one-to-one basis, but that need not be the case.

A first exemplary configuration of adaptable light manipulator 2922 is shown above the section line denoted with reference numeral 3002. In accordance with the first exemplary configuration, a 3D region 3004 is created with fully transparent or fully opaque manipulator pixels that provide parallax barrier functionality and a 2D region 3006 is created having continuous medium gray manipulator pixels. The medium gray manipulator pixels operate to reduce the perceived brightness of 2D region 3006 to better match that of 3D region 3004. It is noted that in other example configurations, 2D region 3006 could instead comprise a 3D region having a number of views that is different than 3D region 3004, thus also requiring brightness regulation.

In the first exemplary configuration, no boundary region compensation is performed. In the second exemplary configuration, which is shown below section line 3002, boundary region compensation is performed. For example, a boundary region 3010 within 2D region 3006 may be “lightened” to a light gray to compensate for any diminution of light that might occur near the boundary with 3D region 3004. In contrast, the grayscale level of an inner portion 3008 of 2D region 3006 is maintained at the same medium gray level as in the portion of 2D region 3006 above section line 3002. As a further example, a first boundary region 3012 and a second boundary region 3014 within 3D region 3004 comprise darker and lighter gray transitional areas, respectively, to account for light dispersion from 2D region 3006. In contrast, an inner portion 3016 of 3D region 3004 includes only fully transparent or fully opaque manipulator pixels consistent with a parallax barrier configuration and no brightness regulation.

In one embodiment, the configuration of adaptable light manipulator 2922 is achieved by first creating a white through various grayscale areas that correspond to the regions and boundary areas to be formed. Once established, the manipulator pixels in these areas that comprise the opaque portions of the parallax barrier are overwritten to turn them black. Of course this two-stage approach is conceptual only and no “overwriting” need be performed.

In certain embodiments, adaptable light manipulator 2922 comprises the only component used in display system 2900 for performing brightness regulation and/or boundary region compensation. In alternate embodiments, display system 2900 further utilizes any one or more of the following aforementioned techniques for performing brightness regulation and/or boundary region compensation: a backlighting array with independently-controllable light sources, a grating structure for use therewith, and/or a pixel array and associated control logic for selectively increasing or decreasing the intensity of display pixels (e.g., either LCD pixels or OLED/PLED pixels). Note that in certain embodiments (such as the one described above in reference to FIG. 30), adaptable light manipulator 2922 is implemented as an integrated parallax barrier and brightness regulation overlay. However, in alternate embodiments, adaptable light manipulator 2922 is implemented using a parallax barrier panel and an independent brightness regulation overlay panel. In certain embodiments, whichever elements of display system 2900 are not used to help perform brightness regulation may be replaced with more conventional counterparts.

A method for operating a display system that implements a regional brightness control scheme by using a brightness regulation overlay such as that described above will now be described with reference to flowchart 3100 of FIG. 31. The method of flowchart 3100 may be performed, for example, by display system 2900 of FIG. 29. However, the method is not limited to that embodiment and may be implemented by other display systems.

As shown in FIG. 31, the method of flowchart 3100 begins at step 3102, in which a pixel array is controlled to simultaneously represent first image content via a first portion of the pixel array and second image content via a second portion of the pixel array. With continued reference to the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 29 and 30, this step may be performed by controlling pixel array 2932 of display system 2900 to simultaneously represent first image content via a first portion of pixel array 2932 that is aligned with 2D region 3006 of adaptable light manipulator 2922 and to represent second image content via a second portion of pixel array 2932 that is aligned with 3D region 3004 of adaptable light manipulator 2922.

At step 3104, at least a portion of a plurality of manipulator pixels in an adaptable light manipulator are controlled to form a first parallax barrier arrangement that causes the first image content to be perceived in a first viewing mode in a first display region and to form a second parallax barrier arrangement that causes the second image content to be perceived in a second viewing mode in a second display region. Again, with continued reference to the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 29 and 30, this step may be performed by controlling the manipulator pixels of adaptable light manipulator 2922 to form the particular parallax barrier arrangement shown in 2D region 3006 (in this example, the first parallax barrier arrangement being the parallax barrier being turned off entirely although this need not be the case) and to form the parallax barrier arrangement shown in 3D region 3008. Note that in other embodiments, rather than forming parallax barrier arrangements for supporting 2D and 3D viewing as shown in FIG. 30, parallax barrier arrangements for supporting different types of 3D viewing (e.g., 3D and various levels of multi-view 3D viewing) may be formed.

At step 3106, at least a portion of the plurality of manipulator pixels in the adaptable light manipulator are controlled to be placed in a grayscale mode to regulate a perceived brightness of at least a portion of the first image content perceived in the first viewing mode in the first display region or at least a portion of the first image content perceived in the second viewing mode in the second display region. Again, with continued reference to the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 29 and 30, this step may be performed by controlling manipulator pixels of adaptable light manipulator 2922 in 2D region 3006 so that they appear as a continuous medium gray array of manipulator pixels (as shown by the example configuration above section line 3002) thereby reducing the brightness of the image perceived in that region. Furthermore, this step may also be performed by controlling manipulator pixels of adaptable light manipulator 2922 in selected portions of 2D region 3006 and 3D region 3004 to be selectively lighter or darker gray (e.g., see boundary regions 3010, 3012 and 3014 in FIG. 30). In the latter implementation, the grayscale mode of each of the manipulator pixels may be thought of as comprising a selectable plurality of gray levels.

V. Example Display System Implementation

FIG. 32 is a block diagram of an example practical implementation of a display system 3200 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 32, display system 3200 generally comprises control circuitry 3202, driver circuitry 3204 and screen elements 3206.

As shown in FIG. 32, control circuitry 3202 includes a processing unit 3214, which may comprise one or more general-purpose or special-purpose processors or one or more processing cores. Processing unit 3214 is connected to a communication infrastructure 3212, such as a communication bus. Control circuitry 3202 may also include a primary or main memory (not shown in FIG. 32), such as random access memory (RAM), that is connected to communication infrastructure 3212. The main memory may have control logic stored thereon for execution by processing unit 3214 as well as data stored thereon that may be input to or output by processing unit 3214 during execution of such control logic.

Control circuitry 3202 may also include one or more secondary storage devices (not shown in FIG. 32) that are connected to communication infrastructure 3212, including but not limited to a hard disk drive, a removable storage drive (such as an optical disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, or the like), or an interface for communicating with a removable storage unit such as an interface for communicating with a memory card, memory stick or the like. Each of these secondary storage devices provide an additional means for storing control logic for execution by processing unit 3214 as well as data that may be input to or output by processing unit 3214 during execution of such control logic.

Control circuitry 3202 further includes a user input interface 3216 and a media interface 3218. User input interface 3216 is intended to generally represent any type of interface that may be used to receive user input, including but not limited to a remote control device, a traditional computer input device such as a keyboard or mouse, a touch screen, a gamepad or other type of gaming console input device, or one or more sensors including but not limited to video cameras, microphones and motion sensors. Media interface 3218 is intended to represent any type of interface that is capable of receiving media content such as video content or image content. In certain implementations, media interface 3218 may comprise an interface for receiving media content from a remote source such as a broadcast media server, an on-demand media server, or the like. In such implementations, media interface 3218 may comprise, for example and without limitation, a wired or wireless internet or intranet connection, a satellite interface, a fiber interface, a coaxial cable interface, or a fiber-coaxial cable interface. Media interface 3218 may also comprise an interface for receiving media content from a local source such as a DVD or Blu-Ray disc player, a personal computer, a personal media player, smart phone, or the like. Media content 3218 may be capable of retrieving video content from multiple sources.

Control circuitry 3202 further includes a communication interface 3220. Communication interface 3220 enables control circuitry 3202 to send control signals via a communication medium 3262 to another communication interface 3240 within driver circuitry 3204, thereby enabling control circuitry 3202 to control the operation of driver circuitry 3204. Communication medium 3262 may comprise any kind of wired or wireless communication medium suitable for transmitting such control signals.

As shown in FIG. 32, driver circuitry 3204 includes the aforementioned communication interface 3240 as well as pixel array driver circuitry 3242, adaptable light manipulator driver circuitry 3244 and backlight driver circuitry 3246 all of which are connected thereto. Each of these driver circuitry elements is configured to receive control signals from control circuitry 3202 (via the link between communication interface 3220 and communication interface 3230) and, responsive thereto, to send selected drive signals to a corresponding hardware element within screen elements 3206, the drive signals causing the corresponding hardware element to operate in a particular manner. In particular, pixel array driver circuitry 3242 is configured to send selected drive signals to a pixel array 3252 within screen elements 3206, adaptable light manipulator driver circuitry 3244 is configured to send selected drive signals to an adaptable light manipulator 3254 within screen elements 3206, and backlight driver circuitry 3246 is configured to send selected drive signals to a backlight 3256 within screen elements 3206.

In one example mode of operation, processing unit 3214 operates pursuant to control logic to receive video content via media interface 3218 and to generate control signals necessary to cause driver circuitry to render such video content to a screen comprised of screen elements 3206. The control logic that is executed by processing unit 3214 may be retrieved, for example, from a primary memory or a secondary storage device connected to processing unit 3214 via communication infrastructure 3212 as discussed above. The control logic may also be retrieved from some other local or remote source. Where the control logic is stored on a computer readable medium, that computer readable medium may be referred to herein as a computer program product.

Among other features, driver circuitry 3204 may be controlled to send drive signals necessary for simultaneously displaying two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images and multi-view three-dimensional content via different display regions of the screen. The manner in which pixel array 3252, adaptable light manipulator 3254 (e.g., an adaptable parallax barrier), and backlight 3256 may be manipulated in a coordinated fashion to perform this function was described previously herein. Note that in accordance with certain implementations (e.g., implementations in which pixel array comprises a OLED/PLED pixel array), screen elements 3206 need not include a backlight 3256.

Driver circuitry 3205 may also be controlled to cause screen elements 3206 to perform certain functions described elsewhere herein for regulating a perceived brightness across various regional screen configurations, wherein each region has differing light blocking characteristics, and to minimize backlighting dispersion effects that may occur between adjacent regions. For example, in accordance with an embodiment described above, backlight 3256 may comprise an array of light sources (e.g., LEDs) that may be individually driven to vary the backlighting luminosity provided to pixel array 3252 on a region-by-region basis, wherein each region has differing light blocking characteristics as determined by the configuration of adaptable light manipulator 3254. As another example, in accordance with a further embodiment described above, the intensity of pixels in pixel array 3252 associated with a particular display region can also be increased or reduced in response to drive signals from pixel array driver circuitry 3242 in order to control brightness on a region-by-region or pixel-by-pixel basis. In certain embodiments, driver circuitry 3204 is controlled by control circuitry 3202 to implement a combined backlight array and pixel intensity control scheme to provide desired brightness on a region-by-region basis. For example, in accordance with such embodiments, pixel array driver circuitry 3242 may be controlled to cause the intensity of pixels near a boundary of a region to be increased or reduced to correct disparities caused by the luminosity contribution (or lack thereof) from backlight sources associated with adjacent regions. In still further embodiments, a grating system is also included within screen elements 3206 to prevent the spilling over of light from adjacent regions.

In a still further embodiment described above, adaptable light manipulator 3254 includes both a parallax barrier and a brightness regulation overlay. In accordance with such an embodiment, adaptable light manipulator driver circuitry 3244 may be controlled by control circuitry 3202 to implement different parallax barrier configurations for different display regions and to also configure the brightness regulation overlay to achieve a standard perceived brightness across such display regions and/or to minimize dispersion effects between adjacent regions. Various ways in which adaptable light manipulator 3254 could be driven to perform these functions were described elsewhere herein.

In certain implementations, control circuitry 3202, driver circuitry 3204 and screen elements 3206 are all included within a single housing. For example and without limitation, all these elements may exist within a laptop computer, a tablet computer, or a telephone. In accordance with such an implementation, the link 3260 formed between communication interfaces 3220 and 3240 may be replaced by a direction connection between driver circuitry 3204 and communication infrastructure 3212. In an alternate implementation, control circuitry 3202 is disposed within a first housing, such as set top box or personal computer, and driver circuitry 3204 and screen elements 3206 are disposed within a second housing, such as a television or computer monitor. The set top box may be any type of set top box including but not limited to fiber, Internet, cable, satellite, or terrestrial digital.

VI. Conclusion

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A display system having a screen surface, the display system comprising: a backlight panel comprising an array of light sources, each of the light sources being individually controllable to select an amount of light emitted thereby; a display panel comprising an array of pixels, each pixel being controllable to select an amount of light originating from the backlight panel that will be passed thereby; and an adaptable parallax barrier that operates in conjunction with the backlight panel and the display panel to deliver at least a first three-dimensional visual presentation via the screen surface.
 2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the adaptable parallax barrier establishes both a first barrier element configuration corresponding to a first region of the screen surface and a second barrier element configuration corresponding to a second region of the screen surface, the first region of the screen surface supporting the delivery of the three-dimensional visual presentation.
 3. The display of claim 2, wherein the amount of light emitted by a first portion of light sources of the array of light sources is selected, the selection being based at least in part on the first barrier element configuration.
 4. The display system of claim 2, wherein the second region of the screen surface supports delivery of a two-dimensional visual presentation via the second barrier element configuration.
 5. The display system of claim 2, wherein the amount of light emitted by a second portion of light sources of the array of light sources is selected based on a characteristic of a boundary between the first region and the second region.
 6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the backlight panel further comprising a grating structure that limits light dispersion.
 7. A method used to support delivery of both a first visual presentation via a first portion of a screen surface and a second visual presentation via a second portion of the screen surface, the method comprising: delivering barrier control signals to cause placement of both first barrier elements into a first configuration and second barrier elements into a second configuration, the first barrier elements corresponding to the first portion of the screen surface, the first configuration being tailored to support the first visual presentation, the second barrier elements corresponding to the second portion of the screen surface, the second configuration being tailored to support the second visual presentation; delivering illumination control signals to cause simultaneous production of both a first illumination output and a second illumination output, the first illumination output being tailored to support the first visual presentation, the second illumination output being tailored to support the second visual presentation; and delivering signal representations corresponding to both the first visual presentation and the second visual presentation, the signal representations to be used via a plurality of display pixel elements to assist in generating both the first visual presentation and the second visual presentation.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first illumination output is generated by a first portion of a plurality of backlight emitters, and the second illumination output is generated by a second portion of the plurality of backlight emitters.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first illumination output and the second illumination output are both generated at least in part via a plurality of adjustable grayscale elements.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein each element of both the first barrier elements and the second barrier elements have blocking and non-blocking states, and the first configuration of the first barrier elements includes a higher percentage of the first barrier elements in the blocking state than that of the second barrier elements in the second configuration.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the second illumination output and the first illumination output addressing a boundary region illumination characteristic.
 12. A display controller supporting simultaneous presentation of first video content and second video content on a display, the display having a screen that can be configured to have a first region and a second region, the first region corresponding to a first visual representation of the first video content, the second region corresponding to a second visual representation of the second video content, the first video content being stereoscopic three-dimensional content, the display control system comprising: processing circuitry; a media interface through which both the first video content and the second video content are received by the processing circuitry; an interface element coupled to the processing circuitry; the processing circuitry sending via the interface element control signals to cause the configuration of the display in support of the presentation of both the first visual representation of the first video content in the first region and the second visual representation of the second video content in the second region, and the control signals being sent to establish a first backlight illumination associated with the first region and a second backlight illumination associated with the second region, the first backlight illumination having a brightness characteristic that differs from that of the second backlight illumination.
 13. The display controller of claim 12, wherein the interface element couples with display driver circuitry, and the interface element comprising at least one of an interface circuit and a signal bus.
 14. The display controller of claim 12, further comprising display driver circuitry, the display driver circuitry having a display pixel driver circuit and a light manipulator driver circuit.
 15. The display controller of claim 14, wherein the light manipulator driver circuit responds to at least one of the control signals by assisting in establishing the first backlight illumination associated with the first region.
 16. The display controller of claim 15, wherein the light manipulator driver circuit also responds to the at least one of the control signals by generating a parallax barrier configuration associated with the first region.
 17. The display controller of claim 16, wherein the first backlight illumination being selected based at least in part on a brightness limiting characteristic associated with the parallax barrier configuration.
 18. A method used to support a visual presentation of three-dimensional content to a viewer via a screen, the viewer having a left eye and a right eye, the method comprising: selecting a first manipulation configuration; selecting, based on the first manipulation configuration, a first brightness characteristic for both first light and second light, the first light intended for the left eye of the viewer while the second light intended for the right eye of the viewer; producing both the first light and the second light based on the first brightness characteristic; manipulating, based on the first manipulation configuration, the left eye light to try to prevent receipt of the left eye light by the right eye of the viewer; and manipulating, based on the first manipulation configuration, the right eye light to try to prevent receipt of the right eye light by the left eye of the viewer.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the screen having a first region and a second region, the first manipulation configuration being associated with the first region, and further comprising: selecting a second manipulation configuration associated with the second region; selecting, based on the second manipulation configuration, a second brightness characteristic for third light; and producing the third light based on the second brightness characteristic.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first manipulation configuration comprising an adaptable parallax barrier configuration.
 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the production of both the first light and the second light based on the first brightness characteristic involving in part control of at least a portion of backlight array elements.
 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the production of both the first light and the second light based on the first brightness characteristic involving in part a grayscale configuration of at least some light control elements.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein selected elements of the at least some light control elements are used to perform the manipulation of the left eye light and the right eye light. 